If you’re prone to distraction and making mistakes, meditation may help you regain focus and boost accuracy.
A new study looked at a form of meditation called open-monitoring meditation. It focuses on personal awareness of feelings, thoughts, and sensations as they’re happening in mind and body.
Advertisement
Researchers from Michigan State University found that this form of meditation was unique in its ability to alter brain activity to boost error recognition.
Further, they found that positive results can occur after one 20-minute session.
The researchers noted that different forms of meditation could produce other neurocognitive effects. They also said that there is limited research on how various forms of meditation can lead to different outcomes.
Mindfulness meditation, for example, generally focuses on a single object, like a breath. Open monitoring meditation is different. It focuses on turning inwards and paying attention to various things occurring in your mind and body. Its goal is to sit quietly and pay close attention to where your mind is going and not the things around you.
The study involved non-mediators participating in a 20-minute open-monitoring meditation session. Their brain activity was measured with electroencephalography (EEG), and they completed computerized distraction tests.
Advertisement
Results revealed that the meditation was able to enhance the brain’s ability to detect and pay attention to mistakes. It may lead to increased confidence and improved daily performance and functioning.
If you find you’re easily distracted or make mistakes a little more often than you’d like (and it leads to multiple trips to the grocery store, etc.) open-monitoring meditation might help boost concentration.
A 20-minute session may help save you time in the long run and boost your overall quality of life.
About eight years ago, Mat Lecompte had an epiphany. He’d been ignoring his health and suddenly realized he needed to do something about it. Since then, through hard work, determination and plenty of education, he has transformed his life. He’s changed his body composition by learning the ins and outs of nutrition, exercise, and fitness and wants to share his knowledge with you. Starting as a journalist over 10 years ago, Mat has not only honed his belief system and approach with practical experience, but he has also worked closely with nutritionists, dieticians, athletes, and fitness professionals. He embraces natural healing methods and believes that diet, exercise and willpower are the foundation of a healthy, happy, and drug-free existence.
