Scott L. Rogers

Taming a wandering attention: Short-form mindfulness training in student cohorts

Mindfulness training (MT) is a form of mental training in which individuals engage in exercises to cultivate an attentive, present centered, and non-reactive mental mode. The present study examines the putative benefits of MT in University students for whom mind wandering can interfere with learning and academic success. We tested the hypothesis that short-form MT (7 h over 7 weeks) contextualized for the challenges and concerns of University students may reduce mind wandering and improve working memory. Performance on the sustained attention to response task (SART) and two working memory tasks (operation span, delayed-recognition with distracters) was indexed in participants assigned to a waitlist control group or the MT course. Results demonstrated MT-related benefits in SART performance. Relative to the control group, MT participants had higher task accuracy and self-reported being more “on-task” after the 7-week training period. MT did not significantly benefit the operation span task or accuracy on the delayed-recognition task. Together these results suggest that while short-form MT did not bolster working memory task performance, it may help curb mind wandering and should, therefore, be further investigated for its use in academic contexts.

Mindfulness Training in High Stress Professions: Strengthening Attention and Resilience

A key feature of psychological health is resilience, or the ability to overcome stress and maintain an effective level of appropriate behavior when facing challenges. Many professionals in business, law, and medicine encounter stressful situations that trigger the same physiological pathways activated by life-threatening dangers. Yet most educational settings and professional training programs do not offer structured guidance on how to cultivate resilience to stress. This chapter explores the construct of resilience from a cognitive neuroscience and cognitive training perspective and reviews evidence for the salutary effects of mindfulness training (MT) in cultivating resilience. Applications of MT within the legal profession and the law school environment are described. Empirical evidence is reviewed suggesting that MT promotes resilience in high stress professional environments by bolstering working memory and selective attention.Abstract A key feature of psychological health is resilience, or the ability to overcome stress and maintain an effective level of appropriate behavior when facing challenges. Many professionals in business, law, and medicine encounter stressful situations that trigger the same physiological pathways activated by life-threatening dangers. Yet most educational settings and professional training programs do not offer structured guidance on how to cultivate resilience to stress. This chapter explores the construct of resilience from a cognitive neuroscience and cognitive training perspective and reviews evidence for the salutary effects of mindfulness training (MT) in cultivating resilience. Applications of MT within the legal profession and the law school environment are described. Empirical evidence is reviewed suggesting that MT promotes resilience in high stress professional environments by bolstering working memory and selective attention.