Benefits of a Mindfulness-Based Intervention upon School Entry: A Pilot Study

Background: mindfulness meditation is effective at fostering the executive functioning of children, i.e., the skills that play important roles in academic performance and social–emotional wellbeing. One possible mechanism for such an effect might be that meditation practices can decrease stress, especially if someone is at a risk for elevated cortisol levels, for instance, due to a stressful life event, such as starting school. Participants and methods: the present pilot study tested the effects of a six-session mindfulness intervention applied right after school entry compared to a passive control group. In total 61 first graders participated (Mage = 84.95 months, SD = 5.21) in this study from four classes of a primary school in Budapest. Repeated-measures ANOVA were performed to explore the effects on executive functioning skills and cortisol levels. Results: no effect was found on morning salivary cortisol levels, but the working memory capacities of girls significantly improved as a result of the intervention. Conclusions: a relatively short, story-based mindfulness intervention can improve the working memory capacities of first-graders; thus, it could potentially contribute to the academic performance and adaptation of children in schools.

Download Full-text

Combined cognitive and motor training improves the outcome in the early phase after stroke and prevents a decline of executive functions: A pilot study

Neurorehabilitation ◽

10.3233/nre-201583 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 1-12

Author(s):

Mareike Eschweiler ◽

Lara Bohr ◽

Josef Kessler ◽

Gereon R. Fink ◽

Elke Kalbe ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Working Memory ◽

Pilot Study ◽

Cognitive Flexibility ◽

Negative Impact ◽

Low Frequency ◽

Control Group ◽

Motor Training ◽

Set Shifting ◽

Stroke Patients ◽

Motor Functioning

BACKGROUND: The negative impact of cognitive dysfunction on motor rehabilitation as a relearning-process is well known in stroke patients. However, evidence for combined cognitive and motor training (CMT) is lacking. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effects of combined CMT in early stroke rehabilitation. METHODS: In a controlled pilot study, 29 moderately affected stroke patients with low-level motor performance and cognitive impairment received motor therapy plus either cognitive (experimental group, EG) or low-frequency ergometer training (control group, CG) for eight days. RESULTS: Both groups improved their motor functioning significantly. After training, between-group comparison revealed significant differences for cognitive flexibility and trends for set-shifting, working memory, and reaction control in favor of the EG. Within-group effects showed improvement across all cognitive domains in the EG, which correlated with gains in bed-mobility, while the CG showed no significant improvement in cognition. Rather, a trend towards reaction control decline was observed, which correlated with less functional progression and recovery. Furthermore, a decline in cognitive flexibility, set-shifting, and working memory was descriptively observed. CONCLUSIONS: Combined CMT may enhance cognition and motor relearning early after stroke and is superior to single motor training. Further studies are needed to replicate these results and investigate long-term benefits.

Download Full-text

Expressive arts therapy for hospitalized children: a pilot study measuring cortisol levels

Pediatric Reports ◽

10.4081/pr.2013.e7 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 5 (2) ◽

pp. 7 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Garret Yount ◽

Kenneth Rachlin ◽

Jane Siegel

Keyword(s):

Pilot Study ◽

Treatment Group ◽

Expressive Arts ◽

Control Group ◽

Hospitalized Children ◽

Expressive Arts Therapy ◽

Wait List Control Group ◽

Wait List Control ◽

Group A ◽

Cortisol Levels

This pilot study aimed at assessing the feasibility of capturing physiological evidence of reduced stress for hospitalized children following expressive arts therapy. Twenty-five patients were offered a novel form of expressive arts therapy, termed Healing Sock Creatures, during their stay in the hospital. Saliva samples were collected at two times in the afternoon for the purpose of measuring salivary cortisol levels. The patients were randomly assigned to two groups, a treatment group or a wait-list control group. A trend of decreased cortisol levels was apparent following therapy in the treatment group and concurrent steroid treatment, which is common in intensive care units, does not appear to interfere with the ability to measure decreased cortisol levels following therapy. Our results support the design of a formal study to assess physiological biomarkers of stress in hospital settings. To our knowledge, this is the first in-patient study assessing a biomarker of stress following expressive arts therapy for children

Download Full-text

STRESSFUL EVENTS AND EXECUTIVE FUNCTIONING, WORKING MEMORY AND ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE IN ADOLESCENTS

Universitas Psychologica ◽

10.11144/javeriana.upsy16-4.seef ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 16 (4) ◽

pp. 1

Author(s):

Luiza Mothes ◽

Christian Haag Kristensen ◽

Rodrigo Grassi Oliveira ◽

Irani Lima Argimon ◽

Rochele Paz Fonseca ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Working Memory ◽

Academic Performance ◽

Executive Functioning ◽

Stressful Events

Download Full-text

Effect of cortisol levels on working memory performance in elderly subjects with Alzheimer's disease

Arquivos de Neuro-Psiquiatria ◽

10.1590/s0004-282x2008000500003 ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 66 (3b) ◽

pp. 619-624 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

Juliana Nery de Souza-Talarico ◽

Paulo Caramelli ◽

Ricardo Nitrini ◽

Eliane Corrêa Chaves

Keyword(s):

Alzheimer’S Disease ◽

Alzheimer's Disease ◽

Working Memory ◽

Digit Span ◽

Memory Performance ◽

Elderly Subjects ◽

Control Group ◽

Acute Administration ◽

Healthy Elderly ◽

Cortisol Levels

BACKGROUND: Subjects with Alzheimer's disease (AD) have elevated cortisol levels as a result of hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis dysfunction. Acute administration of hydrocortisone has been associated with working memory (WM) performance in young adults. OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether cortisol levels are associated with WM performance in subjects with AD. METHOD: Eighty subjects were included, comprising 40 patients with mild AD and 40 healthy elderly controls. WM was assessed using the Digit Span Backward test (DSB). Saliva samples were collected to determine cortisol levels. RESULTS: AD subjects had poorer performance on the DSB than controls (p=0.002) and also presented higher levels of cortisol than control group (p=0.04). No significant correlation was observed between the DSB and cortisol levels in both groups (r= -0.29). CONCLUSION: In this study, elevated cortisol levels were not associated with poorer WM performance in patients with AD or in healthy elderly subjects.

Download Full-text

The Impact of Working Memory Training on Cognitive Abilities in Older Adults: The Role of Cognitive Reserve

Current Aging Science ◽

10.2174/1874609812666190819125542 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 13 (1) ◽

pp. 52-61

Author(s):

Sara Mičič ◽

Marina Horvat ◽

Karin Bakracevic

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Working Memory ◽

Executive Functioning ◽

Cognitive Abilities ◽

Cognitive Reserve ◽

Control Group ◽

Visual Spatial ◽

The Impact ◽

Experimental Group

Objectives: The aims of this study were to determine whether Working Memory (WM) training improves the cognitive functioning of older adults and to determine the role of cognitive reserve in WM training. Method: Twenty-one older adults, aged between 65 and 91 years were included in the study. Ten of them were in the experimental group and 11 in the passive control group. The experimental group underwent 15 training sessions of n-back training over a period of five weeks, whereas the control group remained passive. All participants (from the experimental and control group) were tested before the training, one week after the training, and three months after the training with Rey– Osterrieth/Taylor Complex Figure test (ROCF), Digit span, and TMT (part A and part B). Results and Conclusion: Results of our study suggest that although the experimental group slightly improved their performance on the trained task, the progress was not statistically significant. There was also no statistically significant transfer of training effects onto tasks of visual-spatial and verbal memory, as well as those related to executive functioning. However, the study did identify a statistically significant correlation between cognitive reserve and certain tests performed at the final testing: tasks measuring executive functioning and spatial ability. Results also revealed that the group that showed improvement in the training task was significantly better in the ROCF test in comparison with the group that had not improved their performance on the N-back task. Thus, visual-spatial abilities (visual perception, construction, and memory) were more connected with success in WM training, than other measured cognitive abilities (e.g. verbal and numerical memory).

Download Full-text

Executive Function and Attention in Children Born Prematurely

Diversity of Research in Health Journal ◽

10.28984/drhj.v2i0.237 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 2 ◽

pp. 150-156

Author(s):

Celeste Beaudoin ◽

Roxanne Bélanger

Keyword(s):

Working Memory ◽

Executive Functioning ◽

Inhibitory Control ◽

Cognitive Flexibility ◽

Premature Infants ◽

Economic Status ◽

Control Group ◽

Socio Economic Status ◽

Premature Children ◽

The Impact

Aim - The aim of this study is to measure the abilities of premature school-aged children in tasks of attention, working memory and executive functioning in order to determine if premature newborns are more at risk to develop delays compared to children born at term. Method - The sampling will be based on a previous study where five school-age premature children from Northern Ontario will be assessed using standardized tests. Each parent will be given a standardized questionnaire designed to measure the executive functioning of his or her child. The results will be then compared to those of a control group born at term without any neonatal complications. Participants will be matched according to gender, age, language status and socio-economic status. Preliminary analysis has shown that premature infants have reduced performance in tasks such as attention and executive functioning (inhibitory control, working memory, and cognitive flexibility). The influence of gestational age, birth weight and socio-economic status will be explained. Importance of the Study - Premature children are more vulnerable to developmental and behavioural delays (Taheri, Goudarzi, Shariat, Nariman, & Martin, 2017). Several studies have shown that delays in executive functions are associated with lower academic achievement (Hüning et al., 2017). This study will help us determine the nature of the impact on non-language skills in premature infants. Preliminary results will allow us to better understand the impact of prematurity on the development of attention and executive functioning (inhibitory control, working memory, and cognitive flexibility), as it relates to language.

Download Full-text

Evaluating the effects of mindfulness-based stress reduction on cognitive function and quality of life in nondemented older adults : a pilot study.

10.32920/ryerson.14663457 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Sasha Mallya

Keyword(s):

Quality Of Life ◽

Older Adults ◽

Pilot Study ◽

Executive Functioning ◽

Active Control ◽

Perceived Stress ◽

Stress Reduction ◽

Control Group ◽

Active Control Group

Adults over the age of 65 years are now the fastest growing segment of the Canadian population. Although individual differences exist, aging is commonly associated with impairments in executive function. The present pilot study investigated the effectiveness of a mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) program on improving executive functioning in older adults, while additionally decreasing perceived stress and improving psychological wellbeing. It was hypothesized that compared with an active control group, the MBSR group would display significant improvements in executive functioning, mood, self-esteem, and perceived stress. Participants were randomly assigned to either MBSR (n=40) or an active control group (n=32). Results suggest that MBSR is associated with significantly enhanced quality of life compared with the control condition. No additional significant results were found. A full-scale study will be necessary to clarify the present results.

Download Full-text

Cortisolontregeling bij werknemers met burnout; een pilotstudy

Gedrag & Organisatie ◽

10.5117/2004.017.001.003 ◽

2004 ◽

Vol 17 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Paula Mommersteeg ◽

Cobi Heijnen ◽

Ger Keijsers ◽

Marc Verbraak ◽

Lorenz van Doornen

Keyword(s):

Pilot Study ◽

Job Stress ◽

Matched Control ◽

Small Sample Size ◽

Small Sample ◽

Control Group ◽

Stress Hormone ◽

Stress Response System ◽

Cortisol Levels ◽

Initial Measurement

Cortisol disturbance in employees suffering burnout; a pilot study Cortisol disturbance in employees suffering burnout; a pilot study P. Mommersteeg, C. Heijnen, G. Keijsers, M. Verbraak & L. van Doornen, Gedrag & Organisatie, volume 17, February 2004, nr. 1, pp. 18-31. Burnout symptoms are the result of chronic job stress and insufficient recovery. Deviations in the secretion level of the stress hormone cortisol are associated with chronic stress and stress-related health problems. This study examined whether burnout subjects show a disturbed cortisol profile immediately after awakening, and whether a recovery of the deviating cortisol profile coincides with the relief of burnout symptoms after therapy. In this study the cortisol levels of both a clinical burnout group of employees (n=22) who were treated for their symptoms, and a matched control group (n=21) were determined, half an hour after awakening. The burnout group was sampled once more after 14 treatment sessions over approximately 6 months. At the initial measurement the burnout group showed lower cortisol levels after awakening in comparison to the control group. After treatment the burnout group reported fewer complaints whereas elevated levels of cortisol were found. Paradoxically, the rise in cortisol after therapy seems mainly attributable to subjects showing the least improvement in symptoms of exhaustion. Small sample size and the complexity and dynamics of this stress-response system complicate a clear interpretation of these findings.

Download Full-text

Cortisol Correlates with Structural Magnetic Resonance Imaging Parameters in Middle Aged Bulgarian Patients with Metabolic Syndrome: A Pilot Study

Folia Medica ◽

10.2478/folmed-2018-0029 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 60 (4) ◽

pp. 546-552 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Karamfil M. Bahchevanov ◽

Penka A. Atanassova ◽

Kostadin A. Chompalov ◽

Mitko D. Mitkov ◽

Borislav I. Milev ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Metabolic Syndrome ◽

Pilot Study ◽

Frontal Lobe ◽

Cortical Thickness ◽

Salivary Cortisol ◽

Control Group ◽

Middle Aged ◽

Left Frontal Lobe ◽

Temporal Area ◽

Cortisol Levels

Abstract Background: There is a dose-dependent relationship between chronically increased cortisol levels and the number of metabolic syndrome (MetS) components. Both cortisol and MetS are linked to various brain abnormalities. Aim: To investigate an association of MetS components and salivary cortisol levels with cortical thickness in middle-aged Bulgarian patients with MetS. Materials and methods: We examined 26 healthy volunteers (mean age 50, 16±3.1 yrs) divided into two groups depending on whether or not they were diagnosed with MetS. Salivary cortisol was sampled and tested at two time points -morning and evening. Cortical thickness measures were obtained from structural T1-images using FreeSurfer software. We performed vertex-wise analysis across entire cortex and for preselected brain regions in frontal, temporal and cingulate cortex partial correlation analysis, accounting for gender. Results: The control group consisted of 12 women; in the MetS group there were 6 men and 8 women. The whole brain analysis showed that waist circumference (WC) was negatively correlated with cortical thickness in rostro-lateral area in left frontal lobe and the right lateral orbito-frontal cortex. Morning cortisol levels, accounting for sex and WC, correlated negatively with thickness in left superior temporal area (r = −0.477, p = 0.039) and entorhinal area (r = −0.465, p = 0.045) and left mediotemporal cortex (r = −0.477, p = 0.038). Conclusion: Our pilot study confirmed that WC is associated with brain atrophic changes mainly in the frontal lobe. Our finding that cortisol levels negatively correlate with thinning of the cortex in temporal lobe should be further explored in subsequent study.

Download Full-text