A comparison of the effect of relaxation and focused attention on implicit memory in people with acquired brain injury

Pearce, Arthur (2019). A comparison of the effect of relaxation and focused attention on implicit memory in people with acquired brain injury. University of Birmingham. Clin.Psy.D.

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Abstract

Mindfulness as an umbrella term for a range of practices has garnered a significant amount of attention in recent years, particularly with respect to the positive psychological effects it may be associated with. The current paper systematically reviews the evidence for the effects of mindfulness on measures of memory. Three databases were searched, and backward citation tracking was conducted. Nineteen randomised controlled trials providing valid measures of memory were included in the review. Overall, findings were mixed, with studies generally suggesting that mindfulness may improve some subtypes of memory including working memory. There is also some evidence that mindfulness may increase the susceptibility to recall of false memories. The quality of studies, evaluated using a risk of bias tool, was generally poor, possibly accounting for some of the inconsistencies in research findings. Issues in operationalising mindfulness may also have contributed to difficulties in comparing findings across studies. Therefore, the findings reviewed provide a primary analysis suggesting that mindfulness may enhance the use of some subtypes of memory. However, the available evidence is not generally of high quality, and should therefore be considered with caution. More rigorous randomised controlled trials are required to adequately evaluate whether mindfulness practices improve memory.

Type of Work:

Thesis (Doctorates > Clin.Psy.D.)

Award Type:

Doctorates > Clin.Psy.D.

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