One study at Harvard University found that constant meditation leads to greater focus clarity and power. This type of meditation increases levels of the neurotransmitter serotonin, which regulates sleep. In addition, it improves melatonin levels in the brain, a neurotransmitter that stimulates creativity and productivity. During meditation, we train our mind to stay focused on one single thing, such as our breath.
The meditation group showed a smaller Flanker effect, which likely reflects better executive attentional control. The meditation condition also showed better performance on incongruent trials, supporting Hypothesis 1a. However, the meditation condition had no effect on accuracy. So, we can't rule out the other hypothesis, that meditation improves executive attention. Further, the results of Study 1 support Hypothesis 2a.
In the congruent and incongruent trials, N2 was significantly correlated with P3b. The inverse relationship suggests that N2 and P3b are positively related, with the larger P3bs indicating enhanced attentional control and allocation. However, this effect did not occur when the participants were listening to the control tape. Therefore, it is unclear if constant meditation leads to greater attentional control and attentional allocation.
Neuroticism is also related to the effects of meditation on attentional processes in novices. While individuals who were lower in neuroticism experienced performance boosts, those with higher levels did equally well in control conditions. Neuroticism is a personality trait related to increased self-consciousness and difficulty controlling urges. While meditation does improve executive function, studies suggest that the neuroticism factor may have a negative impact on attentional processes.
The benefits of meditation extend far beyond the benefits to the physical body. Many people benefit from constant meditation, especially the emotional well-being. It helps them cope with stress and stay centered and calm. This calmness carries over throughout the day. Some people also report that meditation improves the symptoms of certain medical conditions. For those who suffer from depression and anxiety, meditation may help them manage these symptoms. It also helps to clear the mind of information overload, which contributes to the overall stress levels in society.
In this study, individuals with higher levels of neuroticism listened to a meditation tape and a control tape and their P3b scores decreased significantly on incongruent trials compared to the control group. However, there was no difference in P3b scores between groups in the N2 and control condition. Thus, these results contradict Hypothesis 3. However, they are consistent with the other two findings that suggest that constant meditation reduces neuroticism in higher-than-average levels.