Conclusions
The present study used a rigorously controlled within-subject design to investigate MM’s acute effects in comparison to an attentive listening intervention. It extends existing literature by showing that a single 10-minutes MM session can acutely enhance attention, inhibition and cognitive flexibility processes that are implicated in the used Stroop task, regardless of previous experience in mindfulness meditation practice. The observed cognitive benefits were also present, but to a lesser extent, after a simple attentive listening intervention. Hence, the MM component of orienting attention to the present moment seems to be crucial to optimize the cognitive benefits. These findings are encouraging and support the potential of both intervention approaches to enhance cognitive performance on the short-term, and presumably to improve brain functioning and well-being on the longer run, but this remains to be specifically addressed in future studies.