Mindfulness as Self-Regulated Attention
Swiss Journal of Psychology January 1, 2012 Jan M. Burg, Oliver T. Wolf 86 citations
People who are better at maintaining mindful attention to their breath during meditation show higher heart rate variability (HRV), a physiological marker linked to physical and psychological health. In a study of 23 undergraduate psychology students, positive correlations emerged between scores on a mindful breathing exercise and several HRV indices. The results suggest that the ability to regulate attention mindfully is associated with stronger autonomic regulation, supporting the physiological benefits of mindfulness exercises used in clinical interventions.