Jonathan Greenberg Under the supervision of Prof. Nachshon Meiran “Mind the trap”: Mindfulness Practice Associated with Reduced Cognitive Rigidity Jonathan Greenberg Under the supervision of Prof. Nachshon Meiran

Learning from experience is often crucial for our adaptive functioning and survival Utilize – conscious or uncioncious We get better at things because we rely on previous information. “I’ve been here before. I know what to do”

May experience hinder adaptive responding? Rigidity “…The tendency to form and perseverate in the use of mental and behavioral sets” (Schultz & Searman, 2002, pp. 1) Many kinds of rigidity, I’ll focus on a cognitive aspect, “stuckness” in the past

Rigidity may play a key role in psychopathology: Suicidal Ideation Depression Mania Eating disorders OCD Alcoholism ADHD

A method for decreasing such rigidity may be of value regarding treatment of these and other conditions

Mindfulness Practice “Paying attention in a particular way: on purpose, in the present moment and non-judgmentally” (Kabat-Zinn, 1994)

Mindfulness associated with alleviation of symptoms in: Suicidal tendencies Depression Mania Eating disorders OCD Alcoholism ADHD Psoriasis PTSD Chronic pain Cancer Heart desease GAD

Mindfulness and cognitive rigidity: Stroop Task Nonsensical sentence completion (Hayling task) Verbal fluency Focus on overcoming habits

The present study Mindfulness practice Rigidity Overcoming recently formed habits

Hypothesis: Mindfulness meditators will exhibit lower levels of rigidity than non-meditators, due to more of a “Beginners mind”. The practice – we think we know (breath, reactions) – NO FURTHER PROCESSING

Participants 12 Long term mindfulness meditators 13 “Pre-meditators” 9.32 years of practice on average Practicing 4 hours a week on average 13 “Pre-meditators” Non-meditators who are registered for their 1st mindfulness retreat Equivalent in age, academic degree, academic abilities (PET score)

Eisntellung water jar task: “Please solve the following problems. Try to solve rather quickly, yet make sure you use the shortest and simplest solution”. (Luchins, 1942)

Eisntellung water jar task 6 “set” trials 3 “critical” or “trap” trials 2 “extinction” trials Rigidity score - 1 point for each: Long solution on a “critical” or “extinction” trial “Extinction” trial solved in more than 90 seconds Explain trap

RESULTS

(p<0.01)

Long term meditation associated with reduced rigidity Willing and able to let go of habits, and utilize alternatives when appropriate

Mindfulness and treatment of psychiatric symptoms Many conditions characterized by a stereotyped or undifferentiated view of the environment “Things always go wrong”’ “There is no other way” “The world is dangerous, I must always be alert and prepared” Need for “un-learning” thought patterns and responses Notice alternatives Step out of habit and Utilize alternatives

Current Work Randomized experimental study design 8 week mindfulness intervention Participators vs. waiting list Pre-intervention: Alphabet maze Post-intervention: Water Jar task

Alphabet maze (Cowen, Wiener, & Hess, 1953)

Thanks: Prof. Nachchson Meiran Thank you for listening

Self reported measures

Hayling Task “Please complete the sentence with an unrelated, nonsensical word as quickly as possible”: “The captain decided to stay with the sinking…” Paperclip? (e.g Heeren,Van Broeck, & Philippot, 2009)

Stroop Task: “Please name the colour of the ink”: Congruent Condition Green Yellow Red Blue Incongruent Condition Green Yellow Red Blue Some did not find such an efffect (anderson et al) (Moore, & Malinowski, 2009)

Verbal Fluency “Say as many words as you can think of beginning with the letters F, A, and S” 1 minute (e.g Zeidan, et al, 2010; Heeren,Van Broeck, & Philippot, 2009)