• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • X
  • iTunes
Scott Barry Kaufman

Scott Barry Kaufman

Scott Barry Kaufman - Psychologist, Speaker, and Best-Selling Author

  • About
    • Bio
    • Education Manifesto
    • Sailboat Metaphor
    • Media
  • Books
  • Podcast
  • Research
  • Speaking
  • Resources
    • Newsletter
    • Self-Actualization Tests
    • Coaching
    • Courses
    • Articles
  • Contact

STUDY ALERT: Mindfulness Training Improves Working Memory Capacity and GRE Performance While Reducing Mind Wandering

April 13, 2013 in Study Alerts

Mindfulness Training Improves Working Memory Capacity and GRE Performance While Reducing Mind Wandering 

Michael D. Mrazek, Michael S. Franklin, Dawa Tarchin Phillips, Benjamin Baird, and Jonathan W. Schooler 

Given that the ability to attend to a task without distraction underlies performance in a wide variety of contexts, training one’s ability to stay on task should result in a similarly broad enhancement of performance. In a randomized controlled investigation, we examined whether a 2-week mindfulness-training course would decrease mind wandering and improve cognitive performance. Mindfulness training improved both GRE reading-comprehension scores and working memory capacity while simultaneously reducing the occurrence of distracting thoughts during completion of the GRE and the measure of working memory. Improvements in performance following mindfulness training were mediated by reduced mind wandering among participants who were prone to distraction at pretesting. Our results suggest that cultivating mindfulness is an effective and efficient technique for improving cognitive function, with wide- reaching consequences.

Read article

Share this:

  • Click to share on X (Opens in new window) X
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Facebook

Related

Primary Sidebar

Do Nice Guys Really Finish Last?

Vulnerable Minds and the Hope of Resilience w/ Marc Hauser | The Psychology Podcast

What is the Best Psychology Podcast?

What is Self-Actualization Coaching Training?

Top Psychology Podcast Episodes of 2020

Copyright © 2025 · Scott Barry Kaufman