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Hendrich Honors Thesis Document.pdf (518.17 KB)

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Focused Attention Drives the Effect of Mindfulness on Implicit Learning

Hendrich, Megan
http://orcid.org/0000-0002-0526-5468
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=marhonors1496137671313215

Abstract Details

2017, Bachelor of Arts, Marietta College, Psychology.
Previous research has found many positive effects of mindfulness on psychological wellbeing; however, recent research has noted a negative (correlational) relationship between mindfulness and implicit learning. The current study examined if there is a causal connection between the two factors by having participants perform mindfulness meditation, then measuring implicit learning. Trait mindfulness was measured using the Mindful Attention Awareness Scale (MAAS). Mindfulness was then induced using a 10-minute mindfulness meditation audiotape, and state mindfulness was measured with various state mindfulness scales. Then, participants performed a serial reaction time (SRT) task to measure their implicit learning. Although overall implicit learning was not significantly different, it was found that, in the mindfulness and control attention conditions, significant implicit learning occurred in both the early and late learning phases of the SRT task; however, in the control condition, significant implicit learning was found only in the late learning phase. It is suggested that while mindfulness may not affect how much implicit learning occurs, it may affect the rate at which implicit learning occurs. Additionally, the effect may be due to focused attention in general rather than mindfulness. Lastly, overall implicit learning was positively correlated with participants’ MAAS scores, which contradicts the findings of previous studies.
Christopher Klein (Advisor)
Alicia Doerflinger (Committee Member)
Mark Sibicky (Committee Member)
34 p.
Cognitive Psychology; Psychology
focused attention, implicit learning, meditation, mindfulness

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Hendrich, M. (2017). Focused Attention Drives the Effect of Mindfulness on Implicit Learning [Undergraduate thesis, Marietta College]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=marhonors1496137671313215

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Hendrich, Megan. Focused Attention Drives the Effect of Mindfulness on Implicit Learning. 2017. Marietta College, Undergraduate thesis. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=marhonors1496137671313215.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Hendrich, Megan. "Focused Attention Drives the Effect of Mindfulness on Implicit Learning." Undergraduate thesis, Marietta College, 2017. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=marhonors1496137671313215

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

marhonors1496137671313215
482
© 2017, some rights reserved.Creative Commons License Focused Attention Drives the Effect of Mindfulness on Implicit Learning by Megan Hendrich is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License. Based on a work at etd.ohiolink.edu.
This open access ETD is published by Marietta College Honors Theses and OhioLINK.