M I N D & L I F E I N S T I T U T E

MLSRI 2016

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varlea awardee preSentationS

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2016 Mind and Life SUMMeR ReSeaRCH inSTiTUTe • June 11-17, 2016

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breakoutSESSIoNS

Mon, June 133:45–4:45 pM

wed,June 153:45–4:45 pM

thu,June 163:45–4:45 pM

appalachian room

Andreas Roepstorff

Wendy Hasenkamp

Brooke D. Lavelle

heritage room

Rhonda Magee Cathy Kerr Clifford Saron

Seminar room

Martijn van Beek Helen Weng Laurence J. Kirmayer

lower auditorium

Catherine Shaddix

Rhonda Magee & Helen Weng

meditation hall

Sharon Salzberg & Al Kaszniak

Harold D. Roth

James H. Austin

board room Jonathan Schooler

David McMahan

Sona Dimidjian

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JAMES H. AUSTINliving Zen, remindfully, in the body and brain An over conditioned sense of Self causes us to suffer. Openly receptive meditative practices are a remedy. They help us let go of this egocentric frame of reference. Their more subconscious, global, reflexive, bottom-up spatial awareness is sensitive to unexpected stimuli. The dorsal attention system over the lateral surface of the brain overlaps the sensory association cortex where we actively represent the tangible egocentric Self of our body (our soma). Functional MRI reveals that an external stimulus both: (1) activates this dorsolateral attention system and (2) de-activates our mostly-medial frontoparietal regions. These so-called “default” regions service a variety of autobiographical/topographical/memory functions. They jointly relate our intangible psychic sense of Self to this “other” world outside. The profound implications for meditators are considered in the discussion period.

SONA DIMIDJIANdo we have the knowledge and tools to Support enduring well-being for all? a Conversation about evidence, applications, and directions for Mindfulness-based interventions in applied Clinical ContextsAt their core, mindfulness-based interventions aim to alleviate distress and promote enduring well-being. Such interventions are increasingly used in applied clinical contexts among individuals with health and mental health vulnerabilities. Do such interventions achieve their goals? How can we optimize effectiveness and accessibility? This breakout session offers an overview and a critical appraisal of what we know about the effectiveness of mindfulness-based interventions and new innovations to increase access in applied contexts. The breakout session also offers principles for clinical research and practice to support deep and ethical engagement in this field. We will explore ways in which participants can contribute, as scholars, practitioners or both, to building a world characterized by enduring well-being for all.

WENDY HASENKAMPMind and life awardsThis will be an open time for Q&A about Mind and Life’s various funding mechanisms available to scholars in contemplative studies. Come with questions, or just to learn more and meet fellow young scholars!

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LAURENCE J. KIRMAYERthinking through Culture and Context in Contemplative Science: insights from Cultural psychiatry, psychiatric anthropology, and Critical neuroscienceThis workshop will discuss the challenges and promise of integrating ethnographic methods with neuroscience in the study of contemplative practices. The discussion will follow the current work and interests and participants and will include reflections on ways of understanding culture and context informed by current embodied, enactive cognitive science, cultural psychiatry, psychiatric anthropology and critical neuroscience. In addition to specific methodological strategies, questions to be considered may include: Does extracting techniques like meditation from the social context in which they originate change the nature and effects of the practice? What is the relationship of these practices to everyday Buddhism as lived in Asian countries or by migrants to the West? How has the Westernization and psychologization of Buddhism and other contemplative traditions altered their meaning? What does contemporary social science tell us about the importance of culture and context in the practice of mindfulness meditation and allied techniques? What are the implications of a cultural and contextual view of mindfulness for continued dialogue between Buddhist thought and psychiatry?

BROOKE D. LAVELLEContemplation in action: how Contemplatives and Social activists Can learn from and Support each otherMany in contemplative studies are interested and engaged in work to change the social structures and institutions that limit our ability for love, freedom and transformation. Yet some have critiqued contemplative movements and methodologies for being naïve to systemic issues and the needs of the diverse contexts and communities in which they serve. In this session, we will explore some of the current limitations of modern contemplative movements and constructively inquire into ways in which contemplatives can learn from social activists and community leaders. In turn, we will also explore ways in which contemplative training can support and sustain those who serve.

RHONDA MAGEEMethodological innovations for deepening our understanding of Contemplative inquiry and practices as Social Justice interventionsIn this session, Professor Magee will invite and facilitate discussion on innovative, contemplative research methods: critical qualitative, quantitative and mixed methods for researching the use and utility of contemplative practices and related research for social justice work in a diverse world beset with suffering at personal, interpersonal and systemic levels.

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RHONDA MAGEE & HELEN WENGturning toward Social identity-based Suffering: practicing Mindfulness and Compassionate awareness together (Experiential Breakout Session)In our social world, our experiences are shaped through the identities in which we live in and are perceived. Mindfulness and compassion practices may enhance awareness of these processes both within ourselves and interactions with others to slow down habitual responding based on social conditioning. This may bring compassionate space to holding our automatic reactions and choosing wiser actions when interacting with those who may have different identity-based experiences. Based on the group members’ experiences, we will choose a theme or themes that emerge during the week at MLSRI. We will engage in mindfulness and compassion exercises to help process and deepen awareness around the theme(s) chosen. This may include simple awareness practices for examining our own experience, pair-and-share communication exercises, inquiry, and reflections to support working with our biases, unexamined assumptions, and privileges, and more. We aim to embody and hold space within the group for mindful and compassionate responding to each others’ experiences, and provide a safe space in which to process triggering topics. We hope to offer practices and processes group members may continue to reflect and expand upon in their own communities and systems as part of life-long and deepening practice.

DAVID McMAHANhumanities and the Sciences: non-overlapping Magisteria or overlapping Fertile Ground?Put a meditator into an fMRI machine and we can determine where increased bloodflow is occurring in her brain. But what does this mean? How does this correlate with her own account of her experience? What if this account is given in the terms of her own religious tradition? How is what she tells researchers influenced by her estimation of their expectations and capacities for understanding? How do the categories in which she relates her experience match up to those used by the researchers? What roles do the practice in question play in her tradition? Are they different from the ones in which the researchers are interested? Not all of these questions are scientific questions, but they might all be necessary in order to achieve the fullest possible understanding of a given practice. Some of the questions might only be answerable by humanistic— historical, cultural, philosophical, sociological, anthropological—research. What are the boundaries between scientific and humanistic modes of inquiry with regard to contemplative practices? Do they occupy separate realms or might they overlap productively? This breakout session will be an open-ended discussion on these issues.

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ANDREAS ROEPSTORFFpracticing interdisciplinarityMuch of contemplative research is inherently interdisciplinary and may easily fall between classical disciplines and departments. This may be a creative, fun and productive position to be working in and from, personally and professionally, but may at times also be experienced as fragile, frustrating and disempowered. This breakout will allow us to explore experiences of interdisciplinarity. Bring along your best and worst memories, fears and hopes and lets’s share cases, lessons, advices and best practices.

HAROLD D. ROTHthe baby or the bathwater: recontextualizing asian Contemplative practices in “Medlab” Courses at brown university One of the vexing questions in the transmission of Asian wisdom traditions to the West is which elements of their distinctive religious contexts need to be retained. While Asian adepts attempted to re-establish authentic contexts for their teachings in the West, there is no doubt that our distinctively different culture caused significant changes. If this was the case for attempts at authentic religious contextual recreation, how much more so when contemplative practices are brought to the modern secular university? The Contemplative Studies program at Brown University has taught meditation practices to close to 1000 students in the past 16 years in our distinctive “medlab” courses. These combine third-person study of cultural context and scientific research with critical first person approaches. I will present both quantitative and qualitative evidence of the effects these have produced and discuss significant elements of the medlab context I have retained from my own experience in Rinzai Zen training in America and Japan.

SHARON SALZBERG & AL KASZNIAKbringing Meditation to lifeIn this breakout session, participants and the two faculty co-conveners will have the opportunity to discuss their experiences in bringing meditation practice into the complexity of everyday life. Issues framing this discussion may include, but need not be limited to: Initiating and sustaining a practice; The set and setting of regular practice; Integrating a meditation practice into the realities of work and family life; Congruences and conflicts with personal, religious, and academic values.

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CLIFFORD SARONConnecting experience to experiment: Conceptualizing Mindfulness as a neurophenomenological MatrixI will briefly present a neurophenomenological model developed with Antoine Lutz, Amishi Jha and John Dunne (American Psychologist, 2015) that provides a provisional heuristic for understanding mindfulness training and practice as multidimensional processes within a state-space conception. Through consideration of the model and its limits we will reflect on the scientific narrative that has shaped published academic and popular discourse in contemplative science and the need to build a more nuanced articulation of lived experience regarding the scientific encounter with contemplative traditions. Participants will be encouraged to offer their own modifications and additions to the model or suggest alternative approaches.

JONATHAN SCHOOLERescape from the present: when is Mind wandering detrimental and when Might it actually be of value?Mind wandering, the tendency of the mind to escape from the here and now in favor of thoughts unrelated to the present circumstances, can be thought of as the antithesis of mindfulness. Mind wandering disrupts primary task performance, is negatively related to trait measures of mindfulness, and declines following mindfulness training. Nevertheless there are contexts under which it may be helpful such as fostering creativity, enabling planning, and relieving tedium. In this breakout session I will review the current state of knowledge on mind wandering and its relationship to mindfulness, and then lead a discussion considering the contexts in which it may be especially detrimental and those in which it might actually be helpful.

CATHERINE SHADDIXujjayi pranayama: the heart of the ashtanga vinyasa SystemIn the Ashtanga Vinyasa system, the conscious, rhythmical breathing of ujjayi pranayama leads us into a meditative absorption on the movements of prana (the pattern of inhaling) and apana (the pattern of exhaling), even in the midst of the intense sensations that yoga postures can produce. In our breakout session we will explore ujjayi pranayama in seated meditation as well as simple yoga postures. Come prepared for non-strenuous movement.

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MARTIJN VAN BEEKan open dialogue about Contemplative Science Participants are invited to engage in a dialogue about the scope and object of contemplative science, including topics such as:

n Conceptions and elements of contemplative life

n Contemplative practice as contemplative science

n Experiential dimensions of contemplative practice and first-person methods

n Collaborative approaches

n Anthropological and sociological contributions

HELEN WENGincreasing diversity of researchers and participants within Contemplative Scholarship and ScienceUsing the collective wisdom in the room, we will identify methods for increasing diversity and constructively addressing related issues among both researchers and participants within contemplative scholarship and science through the following: 1) Reviewing the historical reasons for why diverse populations have been excluded and/or oppressed within the context of research and academia. 2) Identifying core needs areas for increasing diversity within contemplative science, and the methods that may do this. 3) Highlighting the changes needed both in the processes of research and academia (e.g., using community-engaged research methods; increasing support for academics belonging to minority groups) and in the content of research (e.g., adapting measurements to be more culturally-sensitive). 4) Discussing ways to promote the learning of culturally-sensitive communication styles and strategies for working through issues of power and privilege (another breakout session will focus on contemplative exercises to help with this). By the end of the session, we aim for each person to be aware of concrete ways they can help increase or maintain diversity within their own academic and research communities, as well as the specific ways they can facilitate skillful cross-cultural communication and dialogue around issues of power and privilege in these settings. n

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Varela awardeeprESENTaTIoNS

LAURA SCHMALZLthe effect of Movement-focused and breath-focused Yoga practice on Stress parameters and Sustained attentionYoga-based practices (YBP) typically involve a combination of movement sequences, conscious regulation of the breath, and techniques to engage attention. However, little is known about whether effects of YBP result from the synergistic combination of these components, or whether a subset may yield similar effects. In this study we compared the effect of two 8-week yoga programs: a movement-focused practice (involving movement, breath and controlled gaze), and a breath-focused practice (involving breath and controlled gaze). Healthy yoga-naïve participants (age 18-35) were randomly assigned to one of the two programs, consisting of two weekly instructor-led classes and daily home practice assisted by videos. Salivary cortisol, perceived stress, and sustained attention were assessed both before and after the program. While both groups showed a reduction in salivary cortisol and perceived stress, only the breath-focused group showed improvements in sustained attention. These findings will be discussed in the context of a theoretical framework outlining bottom-up neurophysiological and top-down neurocognitive mechanisms hypothesized to be engaged by YBP.

ANTHONY KINGincreased dMn resting State Functional Connectivity with attention networks in a Mindfulness-based exposure therapy for ptSd in Combat veterans Serving in afghanistan and/or iraq (oeF/oiF)Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a debilitating disorder affecting ~10% of the general population and ~20% of combat veterans returning from Afghanistan (OEF) and Iraq (OIF). We conducted a controlled pilot trial of a novel 16-week PTSD group intervention “Mindfulness-Based Exposure Therapy” (MBET), which incorporates mindfulness (meditation, body scan, movement), self-compassion exercises, PTSD psychoeducation, and in vivo exposure (but no exposure to trauma memories). OEF/OIF veterans seeking treatment for combat PTSD at a VA PTSD clinic (N=39) were assigned to MBET (N=26) or an active comparison intervention, Present-Centered Group Therapy (PCGT, N=13). Pre- and post-therapy functional neuroimaging (3 Tesla fMRI) examined resting state functional connectivity (rsFC) and neurocircuits involved in emotional processing in a subset of patients using ANOVA (with group x time spreading interaction) in spm8. MBET showed better patient retention than PCGT (88% vs 35%, p<.005). PTSD symptoms improved significantly in MBET completers (Hedges g=.85, p=.005) but not PCGT (p = 0.23). The between group effect size was g = .43, p = .098. MBET showed increased default-mode network (DMN) functional connectivity with executive/attention regions (dorsolateral PFC, dorsal ACC). Increased post-therapy DMN-DLPFC rsFC

MondaY, June 13th7:30–8:30 pM

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correlated with improvement in PTSD symptoms. Mindfulness and compassion meditation appear well tolerated by returning combat veterans with PTSD. MBET had retention rates substantially better than PCGT, and showed clinically meaningful improvements in PTSD symptoms. The between-group effect size in this pilot study was trend-level. Neuroimaging results suggest specific changes in DMN functional neurocircuitry that may underlie symptom improvement.

ELIZAVETA SOLOMONOVAeffect of vipassana Meditation on Sleep-dependent procedural Memory Consolidation and postural balance following a daytime napNumerous studies report sleep-dependent processes of memory consolidation. Procedural memory has been previously linked with rapid-eye-movement (REM) and non-REM (NREM) sleep stages, and with sleep microarchitecture (sleep spindles, rapid eye movements). Vipassana meditation is characterized by trained attention to bodily sensations: experienced meditators show better proprioceptive attunement and sensory discrimination. No study to date examined differences between meditators and non-meditating controls on sleep-dependent processes of memory consolidation. Our objectives were to compare meditators and controls on the relationship between improvement on a full body procedural vestibular learning task, static postural balance, and sleep characteristics. 42 participants (22 meditators and 20 controls) slept for a daytime nap in the laboratory. Prior to and following the nap, participants completed a vestibular proprioceptive learning task and a static balance task. They were also awakened at sleep onset and during REM sleep for dream collection. I will present data on sleep stages, sleep spindles and dream content. Preliminary results indicate differences between meditators and non-meditators: improvement on a procedural learning task and balance was related to the time spent in NREM Stage 2 sleep in meditators. Conversely, improvement on a learning task and balance was related to the time spent in REM sleep in control group. Results suggest that meditation practice may impact sleep-dependent processes of memory consolidation, making the “implicit” procedural learning more “explicit”.

ANTHONY ZANESCOimprovements in Sustained attention and Mind wandering following an intensive vipassana retreatIt is challenging for individuals to maintain their attention on ongoing cognitive tasks. Meditation training has been proposed as one effective method of improving individuals’ limited attentional capacities. We provide evidence from a longitudinal study that intensive meditation training during a month-long Vipassana retreat is associated with improvements in sustained attention and attenuated lapses of attention. First, we assessed performance on a 32-min sustained response inhibition task after which participants reported on their felt task engagement (Zanesco et al., 2013). Compared to matched

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controls, training participants exhibited improvements in response inhibition accuracy and reductions in reaction time variability. Increases in felt concentration predicted these improvements in reaction time variability, suggesting that the experience of concentrative engagement is related to ongoing fluctuations in attentional stability. We also assessed performance on a reading task requiring ongoing error monitoring to detect episodes of semantic inconsistency as a measure of mindless reading (Zanesco et al., 2016). In addition, mind wandering was measured using probes to assess participants’ current attentional state. Participants engaged in less mind wandering and less mindless reading following training. Together, this evidence supports the notion that meditation training is associated with improvements in sustained attention and reductions in mind wandering among experienced meditation practitioners. n

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poSterSESSIoNS

SeSSion 1: SundaY June 12th, 7:00-8:30 pMLower Auditorium

preSenter title

Thomas Anderson Personalizing the Training of Attention

Naomi ArbitThe Theoretical and Empirical Foundations of C.A.L.M. – A Compassionate Action-based Lifestyle Modification Program Aimed at Increasing Moral Engagement Around Food

Doris Chang A Pilot Study of Taoist Cognitive Therapy for Treatment of Generalized Anxiety

Dav Clark Investigating Tai Chi on the Road from ADHD to Mindfulness

Elizabeth Cosby Early Trauma as a Predictor of MBCT Treatment Outcome

Spencer T. FixExamining How Regular Meditation Practice Influences the Neural Oscillatory Activity Associated with Refocusing Attention after a Mind Wandering Episode

Dent Gitchel Effects of Compassion Cultivation on Healthcare Providers

Barbara J. Lehman Effects of Mindfulness Practice on Momentary Mind Mandering and Thought Valence

Jacqueline LutzMindfulness Meditators Show Increases and Decreases in Prefrontal Midline Activations Depending on the Nature of Self-Related Processes

Michael Mackenzie Mindfulness-Based Parenting for Mothers in Drug Treatment

Kristen Reinhardt Does the Body Keep Score? Awareness of Internal Body Sensations Among Sexual Trauma Survivors

Virginia Sawyer I Can be Mindful: Developing a Mindfulness-Based Summer Camp for Young Children in an Early Learning Setting

Vanessa Somohano, Rachel Rutkie &Jacob Manuel

Mindfulness-Based Relapse Prevention for Methadone Maintenance Clients: A Pilot Feasibility Trial

Louis-Pierre Tessier Contribution of Emotion Regulation, Selective Attention in the Development of Mindfulness Skills in Children: A Pilot Study

Ian Wickramasekera Severing the Ego: The Tibetan Hypnotic-Like Practice of Chod

Jennifer Winkler Making School Discipline Kinder: Developing a Roadmap

Selda Yildiz Influence of Yogic Breathwork on Cerebrospinal Fluid (CSF) Dynamics Using Real-time Phase Contrast MRI

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SeSSion 2: wedneSdaY June 15th, 7:00-8:30 pMLower Auditorium

preSenter title

Sarah Braun An Interprofessional Course on Mindfulness & Mindful-Movement for Healthcare Professional Trainees

Nicholas Canby, Brendan Cullen & Carly Margolis

Assessing the Role of Relationship Factors in Contemplative Development

Sari Cinamon Mindfulness for Recovery: The Public Sector and Environment Under Crisis in Israel

Lucy Draper-Clarke Student Teachers in South Africa: Using Mindfulness to Grow in the Face of Stress

Craig HaseInclusion and Exclusion in the White Space: An Investigation of the Experiences of People of Color in a Primarily White American Meditation Community

Laurel Hicks Potential of Child Abuse and Mindfulness in Urban Expectant Mothers and Fathers

Mona Irrmischer Meditation Reduces the ‘Fluctuating Mind’

Amy Loree Complementary and Alternative Medicine Use Among Pregnant Smokers

Chrishara Paranawithana

Efficacy of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) to Reduce Symptom Severity of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) in Humanitarian Workers

Nino Rekhviashvili Superstition Predicts Favorable Weight Change in an Open Placebo Trial: A Prospective Study

Marcus Rodriguez A Systematic Review of Contemplative-Based Interventions Delivered via Technology

Suzanne Russ Predicting Meditation Attrition through Experiences of the Five Theravadic Hindrances and Self-Compassion during Early Meditation Experiences

Frank Schumann Mindful Movement and Skilled Attention

Darya Zabelina Mind Full of Ideas: A Meta-Analysis of the Mindfulness–Creativity Link

Anthony Zanesco Long-term Maintenance of Meditation-Training Related Improvements in Vigilant Attention

Yixia Zheng Mindfulness as a Moderator and/or Mediator in the Relationship Between Personality Traits and Depression

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SeSSion 1: SundaY June 12th, 7:00-8:30 pM

THOMAS ANDERSONUniversity of Torontopersonalizing the training of attention T Anderson, N FarbManaging our own attention in our distracting world is a constant challenge, and we tend to be less happy and less skilful when our mind is wandering. Training attention through meditation has been shown to have robust positive effects, including improving mood and improving skillful action. There are several types of meditation, though, and we are left wondering which type of meditation would be best for each of us. This research investigated whether different types of meditation are better suited for different types of people. A variety of personal abilities and traits were measured and participants were trained in three types of meditation (breath, mantra, visualization). Mental and physical responses to each practice were recorded, uncovering how effective each meditation is for each participant individually. Results allow us to determine what traits and abilities predict meditation effectiveness on an individual basis and how individuals can be clustered into groups based on what meditation will be most effective. This study opens a new line of research into how and why each type meditation works differently for people with different personalities and abilities and allows us to make recommendations to non-meditators about what type of meditation to pursue. This study deepens our understanding of how to apply meditation in modern life so more of us can benefit from training our attention.

NAOMI ARBITColumbia University and University of Pennsylvaniathe theoretical and empirical Foundations of C.a.l.M. – a Compassionate action-based lifestyle Modification program aimed at increasing Moral engagement around Food N ArbitI present the results from several investigations (total N > 1,200), which explored the moral psychology of food choice and it’s association with dietary intake patterns. Results indicate that increased moral engagement around food is associated with significantly more ethical and sustainable dietary choices, indicated by increased consumption of fruits and vegetables, and decreased consumption of meat and processed foods. Based on these findings, I introduce an intervention premised on the compassion-based cultivation of moral engagement in the food system, as a mediator of positive dietary change. Through direct experience with contemplative and embodied practices, participants will be taught skills for identifying their core values, and for aligning their lifestyle accordingly so that they enact these values through all of their activities, particularly eating. The theoretical

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foundations of this applied-ethics intervention draw heavily on ethical formulations specified by Francisco Varela and Alastair MacIntyre. Specifically, the curriculum will be framed so as to facilitate a synthesis between subject’s enacted responses to the two separate, but highly interdependent questions “What would it mean to eat in a way that expresses care for your body, for the life right here?” and “What does it mean to eat in a way that expresses care for the world?” This poster will describe the curriculum as well as its theoretical and empirical foundations; the latter being based on my own research investigations.

DORIS CHANGNew School for Social Researcha pilot Study of taoist Cognitive therapy for treatment of Generalized anxietyD Chang, N Ng, Y Miao, T Chen, YP Cao, Y Zhang We describe results from a small feasibility study of an indigenous therapy developed in China and updated for application to Chinese American immigrants with generalized anxiety disorder (GAD). Taoist Cognitive Therapy (TCT) is a manualized approach that targets patients’ maladaptive cognitions and values and reorients them to traditional Taoist principles, including beneficence and self-compassion, self-cultivation without competition, balance, harmony, and adaption to the natural order of the universe. The treatment was developed through a rigorous three-phase process of cultural adaptation using a participatory framework. Study aims were to obtain evidence of treatment feasibility and acceptability. Five Chinese immigrant patients with a primary diagnosis of GAD received 14 sessions of TCT from two experienced Chinese American clinicians. Diagnosis was assessed using the Chinese version of the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV. Primary outcome measures (Penn State Worry Questionnaire, State-Trait Inventory for Cognitive and Somatic Anxiety, Acceptance and Action Questionnaire-II) were obtained at three time-points. All participants completed the full treatment with results indicating high acceptability (recruitment rate= 100%). Clinically significant improvements in worry and anxiety, and decreases in experiential avoidance were observed for the three participants with no comorbid mood disorders. Results suggest the feasibility and acceptability of TCT by patients and clinicians. Case study material will be presented to illustrate the TCT treatment components and cognitive, affective, and behavioral changes over time.

DAV CLARKUniversity of California–Berkeley investigating tai Chi on the road from adhd to Mindfulness D Clark, S MostofskyPlastic changes in executive networks crucial to cognitive and attentional control have been implicated as a core mechanism in mindfulness training. Deficits in executive

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systems are defining features of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), which may render improvements from mindfulness training more readily observed in ADHD populations. Further, individuals with ADHD exhibit deficits in inhibitory control mechanisms that can be objectively quantified physiologically and behaviorally, and we can apply our understanding of interrelated mechanisms that underlie ADHD to observing mechanistic changes in mindfulness training. Given these advantages, we have investigated Tai Chi training for an ADHD population, using behavioral, physiologic, and neurologic measures developed in the context of ADHD. While our trial is not yet complete, initial data are promising, with observed improvements in measures of motor control, measures of cognitive and attentional control, TMS measures of motor cortical inhibition, and parent ratings of ADHD symptoms. These findings validate our hypothesis that common, fundamental mechanisms of cortical inhibition may underlie the relationships between motoric and higher-order behavioral deficits in ADHD, as well as the “mind–body” connection often seen in embodied or movement approaches in mindfulness practice. That is, in the process of refining and selecting actions in the practice of Tai Chi, students may be developing a repertoire of inhibitory procedures that are transferrable to other contexts – notably “real world” behavior at home and at school.

ELIZABETH COSBYBrown Universityearly trauma as a predictor of MbCt treatment outcomeE Cosby, J Lipsky, A Rando, G Essien, W BrittonThe effectiveness of Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) can be moderated by various factors, including the number of traumatic events experienced during childhood. High levels of Early Trauma (ET) have been associated with less change in depression scores after completing a treatment of MBCT. This analysis uses data from a 3-armed randomized control trial that dismantled MBCT into two practices, Focused Attention (FA) and Open Monitoring (OM), and compared these practices to a standard MBCT intervention that includes both. Trauma was measured using the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ), as well as an analysis of the subjects’ self-reported trauma histories during the SCID I interview based on a scale adapted from the Early Trauma Inventory (ETI). Depression levels were measured using the Inventory of Depressive Symptomatology (IDS-C). In the OM groups alone, a positive correlation was observed between amount of ET before age 18 from self-reported trauma histories and decrease in IDS-C scores after the treatment. A positive correlation was also observed in the OM groups between the reported experience of sexual abuse and IDS score decrease after the treatment and at the follow-up. These results suggest that early trauma is a moderator of MBCT outcome. Furthermore, the type of practice emphasized in the treatment may impact the directionality of early trauma’s relationship with treatment outcome.

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SPENCER T. FIXUniversity of North Carolina–Charlotteexamining how regular Meditation practice influences the neural oscillatory activity associated with refocusing attention after a Mind wandering episodeST Fix, M Faust, S JohnsonMind wandering (MW) often interrupts goal directed behavior and negatively impacts mental and physical health. Several brain networks have been implicated in the generation and suppression of MW, including the default mode network (DMN), fronto-parietal control network (FPCN), and dorsal attention network (DAN). Furthermore, fMRI studies have found meditation practices are associated with increased activation in the FPCN and decreased activity in the DMN, both coinciding with an enhanced ability to suppress MW and maintain focused attention. The present study compared EEG activity in novice and experienced meditators that was associated with MW and focused attention during a period of eyes-closed rest and a focused attention meditation. An independent component analysis was conducted on EEG data to identify nodes of the DMN, FPCN, and DAN so that event-related spectral perturbations (ERSP) analyses could be used to estimate network activity. Significant group differences were apparent in two nodes of the FPCN, the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex and dorsal anterior cingulate, across several frequency bands suggesting experienced meditators more easily recruited their cognitive control capabilities to suppress MW and refocus attention. Additionally, activation group differences in the precuneus and posterior cingulate cortex lends support to the hypothesis that experienced meditators are more proficient in suppressing DMN activity and MW. Furthermore, group differences in nodes of the DAN were observed that may be linked to enhanced focused attention. The present investigation found EEG network activation differences between experienced and novel meditators that suggests regular meditation practice alters MW-related neural activity.

DENT GITCHELUniversity of Arkansas at Little Rockeffects of Compassion Cultivation on healthcare providers D Gitchel, E Lee, A Kanekar There is currently a great deal of secular and scientific interest in compassion, including evidence-based secular compassion cultivation programs. This presentation will present the results of a compassion cultivation protocol to healthcare providers. Participants were recruited from local hospital and healthcare organizations and were randomized to either a treatment or control group. The treatment group received a standardized Compassion Cultivation Training (CCT) protocol developed at Stanford University. The control group served as a waitlist control and received a modified web-based intervention after the implementation of the treatment intervention. Pre and Post assessments measured perceived stress, self-compassion, burnout, compassion fatigue and heart rate variability (HRV). Full results and statistical analyses will be presented.

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BARBARA J. LEHMANWestern Washington Universityeffects of Mindfulness practice on Momentary Mind Mandering and thought valence B Lehman and D David Although prior research suggests that mindfulness meditation (MM) practice promotes positive emotions and reduces mind wandering, more research is needed to understand the processes by which these changes occur. One hundred and nine undergraduate participants were randomly assigned to either a brief MM intervention (led by an expert mindfulness-based stress reduction instructor) or to a cognitively active poetry analysis intervention that was designed as a control intervention. Each intervention consisted of a two-hour in-person training followed by at-home practice for one week (30 minutes per day) using online recordings. Following each home practice session, participants reported on features of their practice, including current feeling valence and mind wandering during the recording. Multilevel modeling results suggest that those with higher pretest mindfulness reported more positive feelings and less mind wandering during practice. However, in contrast to the control condition, those in the MM condition reported more mind wandering during their practice and indicated that those wandering thoughts were less positive in valence. Measures taken before and after the intervention suggest that participants in both conditions increased trait mindfulness and decreased trait mind wandering. These patterns suggest that the unique effects of MM may require additional practice or more guided practice time. Further, novice meditators may face barriers to at-home practice, including mind wandering and intrusive negative thoughts.

JACQUELINE LUTZUniversity of Zurich, The Center for Mindfulness and Compassion, Cambridge Health AllianceMindfulness Meditators Show increases and decreases in prefrontal Midline activations depending on the nature of Self-related processes J Lutz, AB Brühl, U Herwig Mindfulness meditation is thought to involve changes in self-related functions such as increased body awareness and decreased attachment to the self. Despite the clinical relevance of such changes, neuroscientific investigations of habitual self-related processes in expert mindfulness meditators are scarce. We conducted two experiments on different self-related processes during functional magnetic imaging in the same samples of 22 experienced mindfulness meditators (LTM) and 22 meditation naive participants (MNP), matched for age, gender, and education. Experiment 1 compared phases of mindful awareness of body and emotions (“experiential self ”) to cognitive self-reference (“thinking about the self ”). Experiment 2 employed individually tailored stimuli of self-praise and self-criticism. As we were interested in habitual processes, LTM were instructed not to meditate. In both groups, mindful self-awareness was related to decreased activations in cortical midline regions, which have been associated with cognitive self-reference.

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Reductions in a prefrontal cortical midline area (DMPFC) were however larger in LTM, implying a quieting of self-related thinking and evaluation in meditators. In contrast, when presented with self-criticism and self-praise, the activation in a similar DMPFC region was increased in LTM. This higher activation during self-appraisals correlated with a non-reacting attitude towards inner experience. The cross-sectional design of our studies limits direct causal conclusions, but the results point towards meditation-training related improvements in present-moment awareness, and a more accepting attitude when facing self-appraisals.

MICHAEL MACKENZIEUniversity of DelawareMindfulness-based parenting for Mothers in drug treatmentD Abatemarco, M MackenzieWomen with substance use disorders report high levels of depression and anxiety, parenting stress, and adverse childhood exposures. Mindfulness-Based Parenting (MBP) for Mothers in Drug Treatment is a United States Department of Health and Human Services (USDHHS)-funded project intended to improve parenting responsiveness among pregnant and parenting women who are in treatment for opioid dependence. MBP is intended to mitigate parental stress by teaching parents to be present with their children when interacting, while simultaneously highlighting non-judgment, self-compassion, self-regulation, and emotional awareness. This program took place as part of the comprehensive treatment services offered through Maternal Addiction Treatment Education & Research (MATER), which includes an outpatient medication-assisted treatment program and comprehensive medically monitored short and long-term residential treatment programs at Thomas Jefferson University. We will describe: 1) the development and implementation of the MBP intervention; 2) the impact of the intervention on the lives of the participants; 3) improvement of quality of parenting pre-post completing the MBP intervention; 4) how the program was integrated with research and clinical staff at MATER to maximize the services provided for in the grant; 5) evaluation of MBP program strengths and paths to sustainability inclusive of personnel, programmatic, and budgetary features. Implications and lessons learned, including barriers and assets, for including mindfulness in drug treatment programs will be highlighted.

KRISTEN REINHARDTUniversity of Oregondoes the body keep Score? awareness of internal body Sensations among Sexual trauma SurvivorsKM Reinhardt Sexual trauma is costly to survivors and society through increased healthcare utilization and negative physical and mental health outcomes. Yoga is effective for reducing symptoms following sexual trauma, although limited information exists about constructs mediating

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symptom reduction following yoga practice. Interoceptive awareness (IA; internal body sensation awareness) is a proposed mediator, although no empirical evidence has tested this claim and scant information is available on whether IA changes following sexual trauma experience. In this preliminary study (n = 103), we assessed trauma exposure, IA, and trauma symptoms through self-report surveys. We hypothesized that sexual trauma exposure would be negatively related with IA. We assessed sexual trauma with the Brief Betrayal Trauma Survey and IA with the Multidimensional Assessment of Interoceptive Awareness. We found negative and positive relationships between sexual trauma and MAIA subscales, indicating partial support for our hypothesis. Specifically, we found that experience of sexual trauma was negatively related with Trusting r=-0.10 and Not-Distracting, r=-.15. Experience of sexual trauma was positively correlated with Not Worrying, r=0.10, Emotional Awareness, r=.11 and Noticing, r=.30. We will discuss the implications of these results, along with results from post hoc exploratory data analysis on the relationships between sexual trauma exposure, associated symptoms and IA and the mediating effects.

VIRGINIA SAWYERUniversity of Delawarei Can be Mindful: developing a Mindfulness-based Summer Camp for Young Children in an early learning Setting V Sawyer, C Paris, M Mackenzie A qualitative research approach was used to describe the development and implementation of a 4-week mindfulness-based summer camp for young children in an early learning setting. The curriculum was intentionally designed to offer a child-centered approach to mindfulness-based social-emotional learning facilitated within a variety of contexts including art, interactions with nature, and yoga. Staff consisted of a master teacher, two co-teachers, and a behavior health specialist. Data included focused observations from staff, audio recordings of reflective conversations between teachers and children, and a summative debriefing. Data were transcribed verbatim and analyzed using inductive thematic analysis. 19 children [12 female; age 5.11 (1.20) years] completed the 4-week summer camp. Findings suggest: 1) intrapersonally, children and teachers learned to cultivate awareness of their bodies, minds, and surroundings in a present and reflective manner; 2) interpersonally, the camp facilitated a mindful environment where relationships between children, teachers and families were cultivated and sustained within a socioecological context. Observations, interactions and reflective discussions between the children and their teachers increased understanding of the collective experience of mindfulness within the ecological context of early childhood development. These preliminary findings are critical to further designing and delivering mindfulness-based programming for young children and families in inclusive early learning environments.

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VANESSA SOMOHANOPacific UniversityMindfulness-based relapse prevention for Methadone Maintenance Clients: a pilot Feasibility trialV Somohano, R Rutkie, J Manuel, S Bowen Increasing rates of opiate abuse and dependence create a higher demand for evidence-based treatments. Communities with high incidences of opiate addiction often lack the resources necessary to support individuals wishing to cease or moderate their opiate use. One of the more available and effective methods of treatment for opiate misuse is methadone maintenance treatment (MMT). Although shown to be efficacious in reducing misuse of opiates, MMT clinics are often understaffed and psychosocial interventions available for MMT clients often do not address the multiple factors that underlie opiate use and increase individuals’ risk for relapse. Behavioral harm-reduction models have been shown to be effective in reducing and controlling substance use and are well suited to the needs of this population, yet are lacking in this community. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the feasibility and efficacy of Mindfulness-Based Relapse Prevention (MBRP), a program that has shown efficacy in a number of other addictions populations, with MMT clients. Participants (N=16) were recruited from a Portland MMT clinic. Using a mixed methods design, focus groups with staff and participants were conducted to appropriately adapt MBRP protocol for a feasibility trial with MMT clients. Treatment adherence and qualitative results in combination with preliminary quantitative outcome data suggest MBRP is a feasible and potentially efficacious treatment option for this population. Future research directions will include a randomized control trial of MBRP for MMT clients.

LOUIS-PIERRE TESSIERLaval University, CanadaContribution of emotion regulation, Selective attention in the development of Mindfulness Skills in Children: a pilot StudyN Rouleau, LP Tessier A growing number of mindfulness intervention programs are now proposed for children. Mindfulness skills were shown to be associated with lower anxiety and depression and results are promising with children. However, the contribution of the child characteristics (emotion regulation, cognitive functioning, personal contemplative practice, family, etc) to the impact of those interventions is not well documented. We are interested in those issues, particularly in children suffering from ADHD. ADHD affects several aspects of life, including academic, cognitive, social, personal and family relations. Although medication is efficient, it does not allow for a complete management of symptoms in a proportion of children and complementary options are needed. Mindfulness-based therapy addressing the aspects impaired by ADHD, it appears to be a treatment of choice for them, and also to allow for the investigation of the relation between those variables. We developed a mindfulness program, inspired by MBSR and adapted to ADHD children, in which those variables are considered and assessed rigorously. The objective was to

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assess the effect of the intervention on ADHD symptoms, anxiety, attention and emotion regulation. As a second and exploratory objective, we analyze the impact of the baseline level of those factors on the effect of the intervention. The results come from our first pilot study and are still under analysis but will be extensively presented on the poster. Five children with ADHD, aged from 8 to 12 were included in the 8-week program. They were significantly affected by ADHD and presented significant cognitive impairments to be included. Children were assessed at baseline, week-4 and -9 on a repeatable battery addressing attention and executive function (ANT, Stroop, KITAP), psychological and clinical states (K-SADS, Conners, Achenbach, STAI-C, MASC, RCMAS), and Mindfulness skills (CAMM). Parents were assessed for mindfulness (Five Facets Questionnaire) and parental stress (PSI). Two pre-tests and two post-tests ensure the stability of the measures before and after the program. Spearman correlations will be conducted at baseline in order to assess the relation between ADHD, anxiety, parental stress and mindfulness skills. Change score (paired t-tests) between baseline and post-intervention will be calculated for ADHD, anxiety and cognition. Furthermore, the change score will be correlated with baseline ADHD and anxiety of the children, but also with parental stress and mindfulness at baseline and after intervention. Finally, individual data will also be presented. Those results will allow for a better comprehension of the utility of an MBSR adapted intervention for children with ADHD and their parents, but also of the mechanisms underlying those effects. This will also generate hypothesis to be tested in our next group studies.

IAN WICKRAMASEKERA Naropa UniversitySevering the ego: the tibetan hypnotic-like practice of ChodI WickramasekeraThe tradition of Chod meditation has been practiced by both the Bonpo and the Buddhist communities of Tibet for at least the last 1,500 years. The philosophical viewpoints and experiential practices of Chod are very similar to many traditions of hypnosis and Transpersonal Psychology. Chod is a meditation practice in which the meditator attempts to sever their attachment to their ego through meditating upon feats of transcendental generosity. In particular, meditators engage in a hypnotic-like visualization of imagining that they are offering their body as a feast that can end the suffering of all sentient beings in the universe. There are many aspects of the Ego State Therapy, Social Cognitive, and Transpersonal traditions of hypnosis that easily demonstrate the hypnotic-like nature of Chod. Chod practitioners utilize many hypnotic-like practices of selective attention, visualization, and post-hypnotic suggestion to develop an experiential understanding of the illusion of self that is also frequently spoken of in Transpersonal Psychology.

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JENNIFER WINKLERUniversity of ArizonaMaking School discipline kinder: developing a roadmap J Winkler, M Walsh, and J Maré School discipline policies in the United States are harming children. They serve neither the school environment nor the children being disciplined and often deny justice. The overrepresentation of children of color and children with emotional disabilities in school disciplinary systems receiving exclusionary practices such as suspensions pose a serious problem for the issue of social inclusion. There is general agreement the system is broken, but less agreement about what to do. We are working to develop promising alternatives to current punitive models by first defining a new model we are calling “kind discipline” through a process called concept mapping. Concept mapping is an intertwined quantitative and qualitative process that includes: a brainstorming phase, a statement analysis phase, a sorting and rating phase, and multidimensional scaling and hierarchical cluster analysis of the collected data. Concept mapping culminates in the production of visual displays of the data: maps that provide an interpretable visual representation of the group’s ideas. This poster will present the “kind discipline” concept map we have developed based on over 298 statements generated, refined, sorted and rated, and organized into 11 clusters by educators and administrators collaborating with us on this process. The poster will highlight the themes emerging from this mapping process and our interpretation of the core elements of each of these clusters.

SELDA YILDIZGeorgia Institute of Technologyinfluence of Yogic breathwork on Cerebrospinal Fluid (CSF) dynamics using real-time phase Contrast MriS Yildiz, J Oshinski, K SabraCerebrospinal fluid (CSF), a colorless fluid that circulates around the central nervous system (CNS), ensures the CNS health by acting as a “shock absorber”, regulating blood flow, and removing waste products of cellular metabolism and synaptic activity. Ongoing research suggests that CSF circulation is critical for maintaining CNS homeostasis, and CNS diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease are linked to impaired CSF circulation. Until recently, the influence of forces driving CSF, such as respiration, could only be measured in vivo invasively using spinal taps. Hence, due to lack of non-invasive methodology to measure CSF dynamics in vivo non-invasively, little is known about the impact of practices such as breathwork, yoga and meditation on CSF circulation. To address this limitation, we have recently employed a real-time phase contrast magnetic resonance (RT-PCMRI) technique to measure the influence of yogic breathwork on CSF flow dynamics in healthy subjects. Observations of cardiac and respiratory driven CSF dynamics show that there is an immediate influence of yogic breathwork on the amplitude and directionality of CSF flow velocities, which vary for different breathing techniques and across the subjects. The study results also suggest that experienced practitioners can generate larger and rhythmical CSF flow variations compared to non-practitioners. n

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SeSSion 2: wedneSdaY June 15th, 7:00-8:30pM

SARAH BRAUNVirginia Commonwealth Universityan interprofessional Course on Mindfulness & Mindful-Movement for healthcare professional trainees S Braun, P Kinser, G Deeb, C Carrico, and A DowThe purpose of the present study was to provide preliminary pilot data on the effects of a newly developed mindfulness-based intervention for interdisciplinary health care professional (HCP) trainees on measures of stress and a qualitative investigation of feasibility and acceptability. Participants were two separate cohorts of HCP trainees who enrolled in an elective course for credit. The intervention was an 8-week course that was structured into two halves each week: 1) didactic on the integration of mindfulness into clinical practice and 2) formal practice of hatha yoga postures, breath awareness, relaxation, and seated meditation. Using a within-subject design, outcome measures were administered at baseline and at the intervention’s end. We hypothesized decreases on measures of stress, anxiety, burnout, depression, and rumination. Qualitative data from written surveys after study participants completed the 8-week intervention were analyzed for common findings. Results demonstrated that a mindful-movement based intervention for interdisciplinary HCP trainees was preliminarily supported for the reduction of perceived stress and burnout. The post-intervention surveys revealed three common themes including a desire to build self-care practices, an increased confidence in one’s personal practice, and intentions to use mindfulness skills with patients. Feasibility and acceptability were supported for this intervention in HCP trainees. Future research should evaluate this intervention on objective measures of stress compared to a randomized control group.

NICHOLAS CANBYBrown Universityassessing the role of Social relationship Factors in Contemplative developmentN Canby, C Margolis, B Cullen, H Rahrig, W Britton, J LindahlThough contemplative practice is embedded in social contexts, the effects of social relationship factors on contemplative development have not been examined. Clinical research on mindfulness-based interventions has been focused on meditation technique, but the quality of social relationships surrounding mindfulness practice may be an important mediator of treatment outcomes—and a factor influencing the practice trajectory of real world meditators. We used a mixed methods design across two studies, a qualitative interview study and a clinical trial, to investigate how the relationships with the meditation teacher and the meditation therapy group or community (sangha) impact contemplative development. Qualitative interviews of 60 Buddhist meditators from the Varieties of Contemplative Experience project, a study intended to create a taxonomy of contemplative experiences and factors that influence contemplative development,

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elucidated the impact of these two relationship factors on practitioners in diverse contexts. Quantitative survey measures of teacher and group relationship factors from a clinical trial of Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy were regressed onto clinical outcome measures. Perceived instructor empathy and group therapeutic factors were significantly associated with reductions in negative affect in the clinical trial. Qualitative analysis of the interview data demonstrated gender and tradition differences in the references made to the bond between teacher and practitioner and the practitioner’s relationship to their sangha. These preliminary findings suggest that social factors can be leveraged in contemplative training programs or future research to maximally support contemplative development.

SARI CINAMONUniversity of Haifa, Interdisciplinary Center Herzlia, IsraelMindfulness for recovery: the public Sector and environment under Crisis in israelS Cinamon and I Beeri Mindfulness is a mental exercise derived from Buddhist thought that is gaining increasing currency in the West. Mindfulness training has been shown to improve practitioners’ health and well-being, for instance by reducing the symptoms of depression and anxiety disorders, lowering blood pressure, and alleviating stress and pain. The present research examines whether applying mindfulness training among staff in the public sector – in particular education – can improve organizational effectiveness and performance. Based on the new public service approach (NPS), turnaround management strategy (TMS) and empathy-altruism theory, this research examines the effect of a mindfulness intervention as a bottom-up process leading from mindful leaders and employees, through mindful organizations, to a mindful environment. We integrate research in public administration and neuroscience by using fMRI (functional magnetic resonance imaging) to examine whether and how mindfulness training may affect brain structures and functions, along with behavior and attitudes, in public actors at times of crisis – in this case, managers and employees in public-sector organization in Israel. At a practical level, the research will lead to recommendations for implementing the emerging field of mindfulness in public policy and administration. The main innovation of this research is to create a new field of study that integrates neuroscience and public administration. Secondly, we aim to shed new light on how mindfulness training can modify the performance of public actors in a setting characterized by ongoing stress and conflict.

LUCY DRAPER-CLARKEHeart-Mind Consultancy, South AfricaStudent Teachers in South Africa: Using Mindfulness to Grow in the Face of StressL Draper-ClarkeWorldwide, teaching is acknowledged as a high stress profession, particularly for student teachers. The benefits of mindfulness have been established in contemporary academic

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research and studies are now being conducted within education. This poster presentation highlights results from a doctoral study focused on whether mindfulness can provide a catalyst for the effective transition from student to teacher within the complexity of a transitional society such as South Africa. Findings from a mindfulness-based intervention (MBI) at the Witwatersrand School of Education are explored. Participants (n=14) attended interviews and completed self-report questionnaires on depression, anxiety and stress, mindfulness, and self-compassion. Results revealed that common causes of stress were exacerbated by the South African context, with student teachers experiencing depression, anxiety and stress of clinical levels, with little clinical support. Students who participated in the MBI revealed a range of pre-existing coping strategies, and added mindfulness practices to their repertoire at differing levels of effectiveness. A 3-stage Developmental Model of Mindfulness emerged from the research highlighting categories of Restorative, Dynamic and Transformative Mindfulness. The interviews were interrogated using interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA) to identify themes, showing dialectical shifts as tensions were identified and new behaviours explored. Further research is needed to explore long-term dispositional development beneficial for a teaching career, but initial findings provided subjective evidence from students that mindfulness may be a valuable mediator of change within the context of teacher education.

CRAIG HASEUniversity of Wisconsin–Madisoninclusion and exclusion in the white Space: an investigation of the experiences of people of Color in a primarily white american Meditation Community C HaseAmerican Convert Buddhism has, until recently, been composed largely of White community members. However, in the past 20 years, due in part to the increased popularity of meditation in mainstream American culture, more U.S. born persons of color have begun to seek out meditation communities. While White members of these communities express a desire to make their communities a “multicultural refuge,” persons of color often experience meditation groups as bastions of “normative whiteness,” where structures of language, dress, and other culturally sanctioned (i.e. “White”) behaviors are subtly enforced. Unfortunately, when non-White community members raise these issues, they are often met with resistance and disbelief, leading to a “silencing” that many persons of color in American Buddhist Community find exhausting and alienating. Using a qualitative, phenomenological method and semi-structured interviews, the present study seeks to explore the ways in which persons of color experience racialized inclusion and exclusion at the East Coast Meditation Community (ECMC), a large, American Convert Buddhist community of primarily White members in a populated, multiracial urban center on the East Coast of the United States.

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LAUREL HICKSWayne State Universitypotential of Child abuse and Mindfulness in urban expectant Mothers and FathersLM Hicks, CJ Dayton, and S Brown Parental mental illness and trauma exposure places infants at increased risk for child abuse. This study hypothesized that increased dispositional mindfulness in pregnant mothers and fathers is negatively associated with the potential child abuse. This study utilized SRQ’s measuring trauma symptoms, mindfulness, depression, and brief potential for child abuse from expecting, low-SES parents (N=102) in Detroit. Demographic information was also collected. Bivariate and logistic regressions examine depression, mindfulness, trauma and potential for child abuse. A positive correlation of depression and trauma, and negative correlation of mindfulness with child abuse potential was found. Logistic regression indicates mindfulness alone predicts potential for child abuse. The findings of this study suggest that an increased level of dispositional mindfulness may be resilient factor in protecting against child abuse. Increased depression and trauma symptoms in pregnancy are associated with a higher risk of potential child abuse. Interventions to increase parent’s mindfulness may reduce harsh parenting and improve child well-being.

MONA IRRMISCHERUniversity of AmsterdamMeditation reduces the ‘Fluctuating Mind’ M Irrmischer, S Houtman, U Ott, H D Mansvelder, K Linkenkaer-HansenOur focus of attention naturally fluctuates between external and internal sources of information, creating a need for prompt adaptation of the attention system through swift transitions. Meditation is associated with a greater control of this process; however, remarkably little is known about the quantitative character of attention fluctuations. We hypothesize that attention systems in the brain balance at a point of instability between order and disorder, characteristic of so-called critical systems. To test this, we apply analytical tools from criticality theory to behavioral and EEG time series of experienced meditators and meditation naïve participants. We show that meditation allows willful changes in temporal structure of brain activity from high to less temporally correlated EEG oscillations in attention-related areas. A shift not shown in the control group. This ability to reduce fluctuations is also seen in the temporal dynamics of behavioral responses, as measured with reaction times in a sustained attention task, as fast responders have less temporally correlated performance fluctuations, suggesting that episodes of attention are more sustained than in slow responders. This behavioral finding was mirrored by a reduction in EEG oscillations of the fast responders, in similar attention-related areas as in the meditators. Taken together these findings suggest that meditation practice can affect the temporal dynamics of neuronal systems implicated with attention processing.

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AMY LOREEVA Connecticut Healthcare System, Yale University School of MedicineComplementary and alternative Medicine use among pregnant Smokers A Loree, S Ondersma, and E Grekin Tobacco is the most widely used drug of abuse during pregnancy. Despite efforts to reduce perinatal tobacco use, its prevalence has remained steady over the past decade, suggesting that efforts to reduce smoking before and during pregnancy have been ineffective. Although effective treatments exist, most pregnant smokers neither seek nor receive treatment. Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) treatments may be ideal as alternative, low-cost approaches capable of reaching and assisting a greater proportion of pregnant women with smoking cessation. This study examined characteristics and treatment utilization among pregnant smokers in two national samples—the National Survey on Drug Use and Health and the National Health Interview Survey—in order to better understand the treatment needs and preferences of pregnant smokers, and to explore the prevalence and predictors of CAM use within this population. Results indicated that a sizeable proportion of pregnant smokers are already accessing CAM, particularly Whites and those of greater SES. Use of several modalities—yoga, acupuncture, herbs/supplements, meditation, massage—increased across study waves. Seeking chiropractic or massage therapy was most common among NSDUH participants; NHIS participants reported that use of herbs/supplements, meditation, and deep breathing were common. A small proportion of women endorsed both traditional/conventional and CAM treatment use, suggesting that some pregnant smokers are open to trying a variety of approaches to help quit smoking. Further research is needed to validate CAM treatments and guide safety and treatment recommendations during pregnancy.

CHRISHARA PARANAWITHANAConsortium for Humanitarian Agencies, University of Colombo, Sri Lankaefficacy of Mindfulness-based Stress reduction (MbSr) to reduce Symptom Severity of post-traumatic Stress disorder (ptSd) in humanitarian workers C Paranawithana, S JayasingheHumanitarian workers in war affected areas are likely to show acute stress reactions or symptoms of PTSD. Some of these problems have an adverse impact on family, social life, and employment. Practices that could be helpful in this area are highly important. This study aimed to investigate the influence of MBSR in addressing humanitarian work related traumatic phenomena, and address symptom severity of PTSD. Humanitarian workers were selected from humanitarian coordination networks in war affected areas. Participants had PTSD symptoms according to diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders, fourth edition, text review (DSM-IV-TR). Thirty workers (three homogenous groups, n = 10) participated in an 8-week long MBSR programme. The protocol consisted of two-hour group sessions which consisted cognitive and meditation techniques, and homework including meditation and other techniques on a daily basis for 8 weeks. Pre and post evaluations of symptom severity were done using the validated Sri Lankan version

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of IES-R. At the post test, a significant reduction of scores on avoidance, intrusion and hyperarousal subscales of the IES-R were observed. MBSR programme is a useful method to reduce symptom severity (PTSD). Further studies are needed to examine efficacy in a randomized controlled design and to identify factors influencing efficacy.

NINO REKHVIASHVILISUNY Downstate Medical CenterSuperstition predicts Favorable weight Change in an open placebo trial: a prospective Study N Rekhviashvili, S Gupta The placebo effect relies on a participant or patient’s conscious expectancy of a given outcome in order to be viable. Many studies suggest that many medical drugs need to work in combination with, and not independent of these expectation pathways in the brain in order to be effective. In fact, anywhere between 60 % and 90 % of physician-prescribed drugs and therapies rely on the placebo effect to function appropriately. In contributing to our understanding of how beliefs affect physiological outcomes, this study sought to understand how an open-placebo, placebo without deception, could elicit physiological changes as measured by weight change. Specifically, we examined if superstition may be related to increased responsiveness. In this pilot study of 25 undergraduate participants, it was hypothesized that individuals with higher levels of superstition may be more responsive to a 3-week open-placebo weight change trial. Participants were given once-daily saltine crackers to use as open-placebos for weight change in their preferred direction (gain or loss). The weight of each participant was measured before and after the 3-week open-placebo period. A significant positive correlation was found between superstition and favorable placebo responsiveness, measured by weight change in the participant’s preferred direction. Those who were initially optimistic about favorable outcomes also were more likely to experience responsiveness compared to those who expressed doubts.

MARCUS RODRIGUEZDuke Universitya Systematic review of Contemplative-based interventions delivered via technology M Rodriguez, C Fang, M Ramayia, V Kopilas, and MZ Rosenthal There is growing evidence for the efficacy of self-guided computer-based delivery of interventions based on contemplative studies. The aim of this paper is to review and synthesize this literature. A systematic search of MEDLINE, PsychINFO, and PubMed yielded 21 studies describing 25 interventions conducted across 12 countries published between 2010 and 2015. Inclusion criteria were: peer-reviewed randomized controlled intervention trials; interventions delivered through computer technology, designed to be user-directed, and intended to be used repeatedly for two weeks or more; and a

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contemplative-based treatment was the primary therapeutic approach. Most studies showed small effects, and the overall effect size for primary outcome variables in interventions over control groups was 0.45 (95% CI 0.22, 0.56), with a slightly lower effect size for secondary (i.e., mindfulness) outcomes. The effect size for studies where the primary outcome was pain was greater than for interventions targeting depression or stress. The moderating effects of (a) attrition and adherence outcomes, (b) type and frequency of therapist and peer interactions, and (c) study quality, as evaluated using the Cochrane Risk Bias Assessment Tool, were also examined. Limitations, moderators of outcomes, implications future, and recommendations for the development of computer-based contemplative interventions are discussed.

SUZANNE RUSSDickinson State Universitypredicting Meditation attrition through experiences of the Five theravadic hindrances and Self-Compassion during early Meditation experiences S Russ, G Maruyama Although meditation offers pronounced benefits for a wide range of psychological conditions, many individuals refrain from attempting to meditate or withdraw from meditation instruction after an aversive experience. This study shares results from Stage II validation of an Early Meditation Experience questionnaire, in which 497 respondents completed a survey about their recent initial meditation experience and indicated their likelihood of continuing the practice. Results suggest that aversive experiences with several of the five hindrances do in fact predict the likelihood of continuing a meditation practice, and may serve to inform future meditation teachers about specific components to include in their initial instruction. When the questionnaire validation process is complete, it will assist researchers in gauging the impact of meditation as mediated by individuals’ subjective experience during meditation.

FRANK SCHUMANNUniversity Paris DescartesMindful Movement and Skilled attention F Schumann, D Clark We draw on the embodiment literature and present a theory of skilled control of attention grounded in higher-level motor control as a basis of awareness and mindfulness. Given the implied mind–body connection in recent findings on neural changes via mindfulness practices, it is surprising that mindfulness research so far has largely overlooked the role of motor control and motor learning. We propose that what is particular about movement practices such as Tai Chi or Feldenkrais, from a neurocomputational view, is that they situate the training of mindful awareness directly within the motor processes that organise

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the sensorimotor loop. Hence we present a model of mindful movement that exploits the mind-body relation profoundly. We argue that the central element of mindfully observing how one executes movements provides opportunities to shape joint co-organisation processes between volitional movement, skilled attention and body awareness. We present published results following a sensorimotor intervention based on the Feldenkrais Method that aims for functional improvement in the coordination of the leg in standing. Specifically, the intervention led to subjective changes in awareness of the leg as well as changes in resting state activity in primary and higher-order motor areas corresponding respectively to an intervention that focused “locally” on the foot and ankle or “globally” on biomechanical connections through the whole body. We further discuss how yet higher order learning may be considered along this spectrum.

DARYA ZABELINANorthwestern UniversityMind Full of ideas: a Meta-analysis of the Mindfulness-Creativity linkI Lebuda, D Zabelina, and M Karwowski Mindfulness improves people’s functioning in many areas, but its relationship with creativity is equivocal. To assess the link between mindfulness and creativity, we conducted a multilevel meta-analysis of 89 correlations obtained from 20 samples in studies published between 1977 and 2015 and demonstrate a statistically significant correlation between these two constructs. The effect was moderated by the type of mindfulness, being significantly lower in case of the awareness aspect of mindfulness, measured by the Mindful Attention Awareness Scale (MAAS) scale, than in the case of the open-monitoring aspect. We found no serious evidence of publication bias or phacking, which allows us to conclude that this estimation is both accurate and robust. We discuss the theoretical and practical implications of these findings.

ANTHONY ZANESCOUniversity of California–Davis long-term Maintenance of Meditation-training related improvements in vigilant attentionA Zanesco, B King, K MacLean, C Saron The human capacity to maintain vigilant attention over time is limited. Sustained attention is effortful and demanding and prone to fatigue, lapses, and fluctuations with prolonged engagement. These attentional deficits are pronounced in numerous psychiatric and brain disorders and are affected by age-related cognitive decline. Meditation practice has historically functioned as a complex form of mental training in which practitioners engage in mental exercises designed to increase the capacity of their sustained concentration. A number of longitudinal studies have provided evidence that meditation training may facilitate generalized improvements in sustained attention, but the extent to which these

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improvements are maintained long-term with continued practice and how they interact with other developmental processes such as aging is not understood. In the present study, we examined sustained response inhibition performance across six waves of assessment during meditation training and an additional three waves over a seven-year follow-up period. We observed improvements in performance measures of response inhibition, vigilance, and reaction time variability following three-months of intensive practice. These improvements were maintained up to seven years following the intervention. Importantly, age-related decrements in response inhibition accuracy and reaction time variability were moderated by significant amounts of meditation practice over this seven year-period. The present study is the first to provide evidence that intensive and continued meditation training improves vigilant attention in an enduring manner and may alter trajectories of age-related cognitive decline across the lifespan.

YIXIA ZHENGLeiden UniversityMindfulness as a Moderator and/or Mediator in the Relationship Between Personality Traits and Depression Y Zheng, P Spinhoven Recent research has shown the protective role of dispositional mindfulness and personality traits for depression. The present study, involving a Dutch sample of N = 278 Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) patients, investigated how mindfulness impacts the effect of personality traits (neuroticism, extraversion) on depression. No effect of mindfulness as a moderator was revealed. However, we found evidences that mindfulness mediated the relationship of extraversion and depression severity (also the chance to be in remission). Further analyses of mindfulness sub-scales showed that the effect was mostly carried by the ability to act with awareness, indicating extraversion predisposes individuals to lower levels of depression severity (also higher chance in a full remission) by increasing awareness with present moment. The ability to describe inner experience appeared to partially mediate the relationship between neuroticism and depression severity, indicating lower levels of mindfulness were partially accountable for higher levels of depression severity in individuals high in neuroticism. These findings demonstrate the role of mindfulness as a mediator for the relationship of depression and personality traits, which suggest potential intervention research on preventing the occurrence and recurrence of depression in individuals high in neuroticism and low in extraversion. n

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