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Published in: Neuropsychology Review 3/2022

Open Access 04-08-2021 | Review

The Effect of Mindfulness-based Programs on Cognitive Function in Adults: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

Authors: Tim Whitfield, Thorsten Barnhofer, Rebecca Acabchuk, Avi Cohen, Michael Lee, Marco Schlosser, Eider M. Arenaza-Urquijo, Adriana Böttcher, Willoughby Britton, Nina Coll-Padros, Fabienne Collette, Gaël Chételat, Sophie Dautricourt, Harriet Demnitz-King, Travis Dumais, Olga Klimecki, Dix Meiberth, Inès Moulinet, Theresa Müller, Elizabeth Parsons, Lauren Sager, Lena Sannemann, Jodi Scharf, Ann-Katrin Schild, Edelweiss Touron, Miranka Wirth, Zuzana Walker, Ethan Moitra, Antoine Lutz, Sara W. Lazar, David Vago, Natalie L. Marchant

Published in: Neuropsychology Review | Issue 3/2022

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Abstract

Mindfulness-based programs (MBPs) are increasingly utilized to improve mental health. Interest in the putative effects of MBPs on cognitive function is also growing. This is the first meta-analysis of objective cognitive outcomes across multiple domains from randomized MBP studies of adults. Seven databases were systematically searched to January 2020. Fifty-six unique studies (n = 2,931) were included, of which 45 (n = 2,238) were synthesized using robust variance estimation meta-analysis. Meta-regression and subgroup analyses evaluated moderators. Pooling data across cognitive domains, the summary effect size for all studies favored MBPs over comparators and was small in magnitude (g = 0.15; [0.05, 0.24]). Across subgroup analyses of individual cognitive domains/subdomains, MBPs outperformed comparators for executive function (g = 0.15; [0.02, 0.27]) and working memory outcomes (g = 0.23; [0.11, 0.36]) only. Subgroup analyses identified significant effects for studies of non-clinical samples, as well as for adults aged over 60. Across all studies, MBPs outperformed inactive, but not active comparators. Limitations include the primarily unclear within-study risk of bias (only a minority of studies were considered low risk), and that statistical constraints rendered some p-values unreliable. Together, results partially corroborate the hypothesized link between mindfulness practices and cognitive performance. This review was registered with PROSPERO [CRD42018100904].
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Metadata
Title
The Effect of Mindfulness-based Programs on Cognitive Function in Adults: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis
Authors
Tim Whitfield
Thorsten Barnhofer
Rebecca Acabchuk
Avi Cohen
Michael Lee
Marco Schlosser
Eider M. Arenaza-Urquijo
Adriana Böttcher
Willoughby Britton
Nina Coll-Padros
Fabienne Collette
Gaël Chételat
Sophie Dautricourt
Harriet Demnitz-King
Travis Dumais
Olga Klimecki
Dix Meiberth
Inès Moulinet
Theresa Müller
Elizabeth Parsons
Lauren Sager
Lena Sannemann
Jodi Scharf
Ann-Katrin Schild
Edelweiss Touron
Miranka Wirth
Zuzana Walker
Ethan Moitra
Antoine Lutz
Sara W. Lazar
David Vago
Natalie L. Marchant
Publication date
04-08-2021
Publisher
Springer US
Published in
Neuropsychology Review / Issue 3/2022
Print ISSN: 1040-7308
Electronic ISSN: 1573-6660
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s11065-021-09519-y

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