Mindfulness meditation and bimanual coordination control: study of acute effects and the mediating role of cognition.

Introduction: Mindfulness meditation (MM) involves and benefits cognitive functioning, especially attention and inhibition processes, which are also implicated in the control of complex motor skills, such as bimanual coordination. Thus, MM practice could potentially enhance bimanual coordination control through its cognitive benefits. Accordingly, in this study, we investigated the acute effects of a brief MM session on bimanual coordination dynamics, attention, and inhibition abilities, as well as the mediation link between MM's cognitive and motor improvements.

Intentional maintenance of antiphase bimanual pattern at transition frequency: Is it associated with inhibition processes?

This study aimed at demonstrating the intentional modulation of bimanual coordination dynamics at transition frequency and determining whether it is associated with perceptual and/or motor inhibition capacities. Healthy adults (N = 29) performed in a random order: i) bimanual anti-phase (AP) movements at the maximal individual transition frequency, with the instruction to either let go, or intentionally maintain the initial movement pattern and oppose to the spontaneous transition to in-phase (IP) movements, and ii) The Motor and Perceptual Inhibition Test, giving separate scores for perceptual and motor inhibition. Results showed that in the intentional condition participants were able to delay (more movement cycles before the transition) and suppress (more trials without transition) the spontaneous transition from AP to IP.

A single session of mindfulness meditation may acutely enhance cognitive performance regardless of meditation experience.

The present study investigated acute cognitive effects of mindfulness meditation (MM) compared to an active control intervention in meditators (n = 22) and novices (n = 20) using a within-subject design. We analyzed reaction times in a digitized Stroop task at baseline, after a 10-minute MM session with a fundamental breathing exercise, and after a 10-minute attentive listening intervention. Interventions order was randomized and a 10 min delay was respected before testing.

Online Mindfulness Intervention, Mental Health and Attentional Abilities: A Randomized Controlled Trial in University Students During COVID-19 Lockdown.

The COVID-19 pandemic has led to worldwide restrictive measures, raising concerns about mental health in young adults who were not particularly vulnerable to the virus itself. This study investigated the impact of these restrictions on mental and cognitive health of university students, and tested the efficacy of a brief online mindfulness meditation intervention in countering psychological distress and improving attentional abilities. Ninety-six university students forced into remote learning due to COVID-19 pandemic restrictions and with no experience in meditation were randomly assigned to either a passive control group ( = 48) or to an experimental group ( = 48) following daily, for 17 days, an online mindfulness intervention (10-20 min per day).

Intentional Switching Between Bimanual Coordination Patterns in Older Adults: Is It Mediated by Inhibition Processes?

The study investigated the consequences of age-related decline in inhibition processes on intentional switching between bimanual coordination patterns. Fifteen young (24±2.8 years) and 20 older adults (69±5.