The Influence of a Brief Mindfulness Induction on the Neural Response to Errors

Abstract

The present study assessed the ability of a mindfulness meditation induction to affect the brain’s error monitoring process, as indexed by the error related negativity (ERN), error positivity (Pe), and error related alpha suppression (ERAS). Participants (n=37) engaged in a mindfulness of breathing audio exercise or attended to a control listening exercise, depending on condition, to examine the influence of the mindfulness induction on error related neural phenomena and performance on the Stroop test. Self-report measures of mindfulness, anxiety, and worry were also collected, including the Penn State Worry Questionnaire (PSWQ), the Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire (FFMQ), the State Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), and a brief survey assessing prior mindfulness experience. Analysis of participants’ self-report, EEG, and performance data indicated no influence of the mindfulness induction on the ERN, Pe, or task performance. Instead, these two ERP components were related to individual self-report measures. However, ERAS did respond to the mindfulness induction, as participants in the mindfulness condition showed enhanced alpha power following control trials relative to controls. Together, these data suggest that neural responses to errors are predicted in complex ways by individual differences in mindfulness and anxiety. Findings are discussed as they relate to the adaptive role of mindfulness practices.