A 14 Week Study of Mindfulness Effects on Attentional Control in Older Adults

The Attention Network Task is a computerized test that measures three different components of attention (alerting, orienting, and conflict monitoring). Score is the computed as the difference between reaction time on correct trials in cued and uncued conditions. Scores have been normalized via Blom transformation and computed to T-score metric (mean=50, standard deviation = 10, minimum = 0, maximum = 100, higher = worse)

The useful field of view task is a computer-administered selective visual attention test that determines the minimum presentation time needed (between 16-500 msec) to correctly make two visual judgments: (a) is a centrally presented line drawing of a car or truck? and (b) where on the screen is a peripheral car located? Score is the fastest presentation time at which participants achieve at least 75% accuracy. Scores have been normalized via Blom transformation and computed to T-score metric (mean=50, standard deviation = 10, minimum = 0, maximum = 100, higher = worse)

This task set is computerized presents participants with a word (red or green or blue) that may be presented in (a) congruent (same) color as the word itself (e.g., red word is printed in red), or (b) incongruent (word red printed in green or blue). Participants are cued to either select the word or the color, this varies from trial to trial. Score is the reaction time difference between correct responses to congruent and incongruent stimuli. Scores have been normalized via Blom transformation and computed to T-score metric (mean=50, standard deviation = 10, minimum = 0, maximum = 100, higher = worse)

Participants in both arms are asked, at the end of each of their eight intervention sessions, to focus on breathing. They are interrupted five times during this breathing exercise and asked what proportion of their attention (0-100) was wandering off the breathing task. Score is the average proportion of self-rated mind-wandering over five probes. Scores have been normalized via Blom transformation and computed to T-score metric (mean=50, standard deviation = 10, minimum = 0, maximum = 100, higher = worse)

Participants will answer computer 7 administered questions about anxiety in the past week. Score is a Likert-type scale response from the following scale: 0=not at all, 1=several days, 2=more than half the days, 3=nearly every day. Scores have been normalized via Blom transformation and computed to T-score metric (mean=50, standard deviation = 10, minimum = 0, maximum = 100, higher = worse)

Cognitive and Affective Mindfulness Scale (CAMSr) will be computer administered. It is a psychological measurement to explore mindfulness. Each week ten items are rated on a 4-point Likert-type scale (1=rarely/never, 2=sometimes, 3=often, 4=almost always). Higher scores indicate greater cognitive and emotional focus. Scores are the average of the ten items, normalized and converted to T-score (mean=50, standard deviation = 10, minimum = 0, maximum = 100, higher = better) metric.