Opposite effects of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) on sustained attention in individuals with high and low levels of dispositional mindfulness

Abstract

Objective: Some studies suggest a link between mindfulness and attentional functioning. Using transcranial direct-current stimulation (tDCS), we tested the hypothesis that mindfulness might improve vigilance through enhanced prefrontal functioning. Methods: We compared the performance of individuals with low versus high dispositional mindfulness (LDM vs HDM) under anodal tDCS of the right prefrontal region and in a sham condition. Results: The stimulation improved vigilance performance in the LDM group and reduced it in the HDM group. No difference was found between the groups in the sham condition. Conclusions: The results fit with the view that lower mindfulness is associated with lower attentional functioning, such that individuals with low mindfulness benefit from the anodal stimulation of the right prefrontal region in a vigilance task. We tentatively suggest that individuals with high dispositional mindfulness might have directed more attention to the physical discomfort produced by the stimulation (e.g., itching), thereby reducing the attention directed to the task (and, consequently, performance in this task). In sum, our results suggest a positive link between dispositional mindfulness, prefrontal functioning and vigilance performance.

Responsiveness to left‐prefrontal tDCS varies according to arousal levels

“…Alternatively, mindfulness disposition, which is often considered to be in anticorrelation with mind-wandering, might lend itself to an analogous interpretation (Seli et al, 2016). Interestingly, it was recently found that tDCS decreased performance in a sustained attention task only in participants with high and not low dispositional mindfulness (Molina et al, 2020). This finding fits well with the idea of different internal states whose degree of intentionality and control always reflect the LC-driven transitions between explorative and exploitative mental operations (Mittner et al, 2016).…”