Exploring the Effect of Mindfulness Meditation on Recall

Abstract

Mindfulness is a particular way of paying attention to the present moment characterized by a receptive and non-judgmental attitude (Kabat & Zinn (994). One benefit researchers have examined is the effect of mindfulness on memory. Calma-Birling and Gurung (2017) and Ramsburg and Youman (2014) examined the effect of brief mindfulness training on student’s academic performance. They examined the short and long terms effects of mindfulness meditation on memory in an academic setting and found that short term benefits did exist. However, they only examined the immediate short-term impact, by testing the students on the material in the same class. The current study examines the possible benefits that occur when the mindfulness not only occurs before the lecture, as it did in Ramsburg and Youman’s study (2014), but also before a test separated from the lecture by 24-48 hours. In the end, there was no significant effect of the second administration of mindfulness training before the quiz. Explanations of possible reasons are discussed below.