Year: 2012
Type: dissertation
Abstract: According to the theory of grounded cognition, memory involves the reconstruction of perceptual, motor, and introspective states that were undergone during past interactions with the environment, body, and mind.Here we tested whether engaging in a three-minute guided attention exercise, which should activate simulation mechanisms, resulted in higher levels of mindfulness and improved memory of a narrative article compared with participants who either did nothing before reading the article (control) or participants who watched a three-minute video (distraction task).Although there were not significant differences between conditions in memory performance (recall and recognition), we did find that focus/attention (based on a factor analysis of manipulation check questions) was better at predicting performance on recall in the guided attention condition than in the distraction condition.Focus/attention was also better at predicting positive mood in the guided attention condition than in the distraction condition and in the control condition.Together, these data suggest that participants in the guided attention condition who underwent a brief mindfulness exercise, and who were more focused/attentive, also performed better on questions of recall and experienced better moods.
Author: Margaret Cease
Language: English
Subfield: Cognitive Neuroscience
Field: Neuroscience
Domain: Life Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W1622958878