The DOI matches its Crossref record; 67 of the 69 references it cites were found in a registry or an index, and 1 are not checked yet.
“Mind the Trap”: Mindfulness Practice Reduces Cognitive Rigidity
Open accessAbstract
Two experiments examined the relation between mindfulness practice and cognitive rigidity by using a variation of the Einstellung water jar task. Participants were required to use three hypothetical jars to obtain a specific amount of water. Initial problems were solvable by the same complex formula, but in later problems ("critical" or "trap" problems) solving was possible by an additional much simpler formula. A rigidity score was compiled through perseverance of the complex formula. In Experiment 1, experienced mindfulness meditators received significantly lower rigidity scores than non-meditators who had registered for their first meditation retreat. Similar results were obtained in randomized controlled Experiment 2 comparing non-meditators who underwent an eight meeting mindfulness program with a waiting list group. The authors conclude that mindfulness meditation reduces cognitive rigidity via the tendency to be "blinded" by experience. Results are discussed in light of the benefits of mindfulness practice regarding a reduced tendency to overlook novel and adaptive ways of responding due to past experience, both in and out of the clinical setting.
Overview
The claims and statistics of this paper haven’t been checked yet.
Run the check — free, no account needed. It reads the open-access text and checks the sources it cites.
Integrity signals
Registry
Cites
Statistics
Verification
Claims the paper makes
The claims and statistics of this paper haven’t been checked yet.
Run the check — free, no account needed. It reads the open-access text and checks the sources it cites.
Claims other papers make about this one
Each is checked against this paper’s own text: does it say what the citing paper says it does?
The source backs part of the claim, not all of it — or backs it for a different population, condition or comparison.
In the citing paper
“These anti-depressive and anxiolytic effects are thought to in turn be mediated by enhancements in decentring and cognitive flexibility, in the case of mindfulness intervention (16, 19), vs. mystical experiences and disrupted cortical connectivity in the case of psychedelic-assisted therapy (49, 50).”
From Examining the Potential Synergistic Effects Between Mindfulness Training and Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy (2021) · cites this paper as [16]
Experimental — accuracy not yet measuredIn the citing paper
“Studies examining other MBIs with healthy participants similarly indicated improvements in cognitive abilities such as working memory (76–77), cognitive flexibility (78–79) and inhibition (80), with very limited evidence regarding attentional improvements (see (73) for a review).”
From Mindfulness-Based Interventions in Psychiatry (2018) · cites this paper as [77]
Self-check
Percentages, sums and reported differences re-computed from the paper’s own numbers.
The self-check needs the paper’s full text.
Citations
Cites
Faul, F., Erdfelder, E., Lang, A.-G., & Buchner, A. (2007) · Behavior Research Methods · doi:10.3758/bf03193146 · Cited by 65,971
(2008) · Medical Entomology and Zoology · Cited by 7,477
Mindfulness: A proposed operational definition.
Bishop, S. R., Lau, M., Shapiro, S., Carlson, L., Anderson, N. D., Carmody, J., Segal, Z. V., Abbey, S., Speca, M., Velting, D., et al. (2004) · Clinical Psychology: Science and Practice · doi:10.1093/clipsy.bph077 · Cited by 7,234
(1993) · Cited by 7,136
(1999) · Cited by 5,934
Responses to depression and their effects on the duration of depressive episodes
Nolen-Hoeksema, S. (1991) · Journal of Abnormal Psychology · doi:10.1037/0021-843x.100.4.569 · Cited by 4,529
(2001) · Cited by 3,666
(2005) · Medical Entomology and Zoology · Cited by 3,197
Psychological flexibility as a fundamental aspect of health
Kashdan, T. B., & Rottenberg, J. (2010) · Clinical Psychology Review · doi:10.1016/j.cpr.2010.03.001 · Cited by 3,054 · cited 1×
“Such cognitive rigidity may play a key role in psychopathlogy (for reviews see [6,7], see also [8]).”
BackgroundWherever you go, there you are: Mindfulness meditation in everyday life
Kwee, M. G. T. (1995) · Behaviour Research and Therapy · doi:10.1016/0005-7967(95)90133-7 · Cited by 2,912
Constructive and unconstructive repetitive thought
Watkins, E. R. (2008) · Psychological Bulletin · doi:10.1037/0033-2909.134.2.163 · Cited by 2,421
Rokeach, M. (1960) · Cited by 2,349
BRST Cohomology of the Chapline-Manton Model
Barnich, G., Leclercq, S., & Spindel, P. (1997) · Dépôt institutionnel de l'Université libre de Bruxelles (Université Libre de Bruxelles) · doi:10.1023/b · Cited by 2,186
Alcohol myopia: Its prized and dangerous effects.
Steele, C. M., & Josephs, R. A. (1990) · American Psychologist · doi:10.1037/0003-066x.45.8.921 · Cited by 2,070
Mindfulness meditation improves cognition: evidence of brief mental training
Zeidan, F., Johnson, S. K., Diamond, B. J., David, Z., & Goolkasian, P. (2010) · Consciousness and Cognition · doi:10.1016/j.concog.2010.03.014 · Cited by 1,363
Mindful emotion regulation: an integrative review
Chambers, R., Gullone, E., & Allen, N. B. (2009) · Clinical Psychology Review · doi:10.1016/j.cpr.2009.06.005 · Cited by 1,360
Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy for Depression: A New Approach to Preventing Relapse
Morgan, D. (2003) · Psychotherapy Research · doi:10.1080/713869628 · Cited by 1,307
Chiesa, A., Calati, R., & Serretti, A. (2011) · Clinical Psychology Review · doi:10.1016/j.cpr.2010.11.003 · Cited by 1,295 · cited 1×
“ness, most of which focusing on various measures of attention and memory (see [46] for a review).”
BackgroundMeditation, mindfulness and cognitive flexibility
Moore, A., & Malinowski, P. (2009) · Consciousness and Cognition · doi:10.1016/j.concog.2008.12.008 · Cited by 1,220 · cited 5×
“Although some studies did not find differences between meditators and non-meditators in rigidity related tasks (e.g [47,48]), others have found that meditators exhibit decreased Stroop interference [49,50](in a Zen meditation sample).”
BackgroundResultInfluentialMechanization in problem solving: The effect of Einstellung.
Luchins, A. S. (1942) · Psychological Monographs · doi:10.1037/h0093502 · Cited by 1,143
The impact of intensive mindfulness training on attentional control, cognitive style, and affect
Chambers, R., Lo, B. C. Y., & Allen, N. B. (2008) · Cognitive Therapy and Research · doi:10.1007/s10608-007-9119-0 · Cited by 855 · cited 1×
“g [47,48]), others have found that meditators exhibit decreased Stroop interference [49,50](in a Zen meditation sample).”
BackgroundPiet, J., & Hougaard, E. (2011) · Clinical Psychology Review · doi:10.1016/j.cpr.2011.05.002 · Cited by 807
Mindfulness Meditation Training in Adults and Adolescents With ADHD: A Feasibility Study
Zylowska, L., Ackerman, D. L., Yang, M. H., Futrell, J. L., Horton, N. L., Hale, T. S., Pataki, C., & Smalley, S. L. (2008) · Journal of Attention Disorders · doi:10.1177/1087054707308502 · Cited by 674
Chiesa, A., & Serretti, A. (2011) · Psychiatry Research · doi:10.1016/j.psychres.2010.08.011 · Cited by 650
Roemer, L., & Orsillo, S. M. (2002) · Clinical Psychology: Science and Practice · doi:10.1093/clipsy.9.1.54 · Cited by 621
Ramel1, W., Goldin, P. R., Carmona, P. E., & McQuaid, J. R. (2004) · Cognitive Therapy and Research · doi:10.1023/b:cotr.0000045557.15923.96 · Cited by 580
Mindfulness, by any other name…: trials and tribulations of sati in western psychology and science
Grossman, P., & Van Dam, N. T. (2011) · Contemporary Buddhism · doi:10.1080/14639947.2011.564841 · Cited by 548
Cognitive-behavioral treatment of borderline personality disorder
Brasfield, C. R. (1994) · Behaviour Research and Therapy · doi:10.1016/0005-7967(94)90183-x · Cited by 517
Meditation and the neuroscience of consciousness: an introduction
Lutz, A., Dunne, J. D., & Davidson, R. J. (2007) · The Cambridge Handbook of Consciousness · doi:10.1017/cbo9780511816789.020 · Cited by 485
Mindfulness-based approaches: are they all the same?
Chiesa, A., & Malinowski, P. (2011) · Journal of Clinical Psychology · doi:10.1002/jclp.20776 · Cited by 454
Fischer, M., Barkley, R. A., EDELBROCK, C. S., & Smallish, L. (1990) · Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology · doi:10.1037//0022-006x.58.5.580 · Cited by 412
Inhibition Versus Switching Deficits in Different Forms of Rumination
Whitmer, A. J., & Banich, M. T. (2007) · Psychological Science · doi:10.1111/j.1467-9280.2007.01936.x · Cited by 379
Seidman, L. J., Biederman, J., Faraone, S. V., Weber, W. J., & Ouellette, C. (1997) · Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology · doi:10.1037/0022-006x.65.1.150 · Cited by 366
Mindfulness meditation for substance use disorders: a systematic review
Zgierska, A., Rabago, D., Chawla, N., Kushner, K., Koehler, R., & Marlatt, A. (2009) · Substance Abuse · doi:10.1080/08897070903250019 · Cited by 348
(2005) · PubMed · Cited by 337
Mindfulness-based stress reduction and attentional control
Anderson, N. D., Lau, M. A., Segal, Z. V., & Bishop, S. R. (2007) · Clinical Psychology & Psychotherapy · doi:10.1002/cpp.544 · Cited by 326
Garland, E. L., Gaylord, S. A., Boettiger, C. A., & Howard, M. O. (2010) · Journal of Psychoactive Drugs · doi:10.1080/02791072.2010.10400690 · Cited by 319
Mindfulness‐based cognitive therapy for residual depressive symptoms
Kingston, T., Dooley, B. A., Bates, A., Lawlor, E., & Malone, K. M. (2006) · Psychology and Psychotherapy Theory Research and Practice · doi:10.1348/147608306x116016 · Cited by 302
The effects of mindfulness on executive processes and autobiographical memory specificity
Heeren, A., Van Broeck, N., & Philippot, P. (2009) · Behaviour Research and Therapy · doi:10.1016/j.brat.2009.01.017 · Cited by 298
Detached Mindfulness In Cognitive Therapy: A Metacognitive Analysis And Ten Techniques
Wells, A. (2005) · Journal of Rational-Emotive & Cognitive-Behavior Therapy · doi:10.1007/s10942-005-0018-6 · Cited by 291
Fischer, M., Barkley, R. A., EDELBROCK, C. S., et al. (1990) · Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology · doi:10.1037/0022-006x.58.5.580 · Cited by 275
Attentional processes and meditation
Hodgins, H. S., & Adair, K. C. (2010) · Consciousness and Cognition · doi:10.1016/j.concog.2010.04.002 · Cited by 233
Task Switching and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
Cepeda, N. J., Cepeda, M. L., & Kramer, A. F. (2000) · Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology · doi:10.1023/a:1005143419092 · Cited by 231
Meiran, N., Diamond, G. M., Toder, D., & Nemets, B. (2011) · Psychiatry Research · doi:10.1016/j.psychres.2010.04.044 · Cited by 203
Sullivan, E. V., Mathalon, D. H., Zipursky, R. B., Kersteen-Tucker, Z., Knight, R. T., & Pfefferbaum, A. (1993) · Psychiatry Research · doi:10.1016/0165-1781(93)90019-d · Cited by 193
Rapgay, L., & Bystrisky, A. (2009) · Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences · doi:10.1111/j.1749-6632.2009.04405.x · Cited by 189
The Application of Mindfulness to Eating Disorders Treatment: A Systematic Review
Wanden-Berghe, R. G., Sanz-Valero, J., & Wanden-Berghe, C. (2010) · Eating Disorders · doi:10.1080/10640266.2011.533604 · Cited by 184
Changes in Ruminative Thinking Mediate the Clinical Benefits of Mindfulness: Preliminary Findings
Heeren, A., & Philippot, P. (2010) · Mindfulness · doi:10.1007/s12671-010-0037-y · Cited by 147
Rigidity of thought and behavior: 100 years of research.
Schultz, P. W., & Searleman, A. (2002) · PubMed · Cited by 136
Alternation learning in obsessive-compulsive disorder
Gross‐Isseroff, R., Sasson, Y., Voet, H., Hendler, T., Luca-Haimovici, K., Kandel-Sussman, H., & Zohar, J. (1996) · Biological Psychiatry · doi:10.1016/0006-3223(95)00179-4 · Cited by 103
A pilot study of mindfulness-based cognitive therapy for bipolar disorder
Miklowitz, D. J., Alatiq, Y., Goodwin, G. M., Geddes, J. R., Fennell, M. J. V., Dimidjian, S., Hauser, M., & Williams, J. M. G. (2009) · International Journal of Cognitive Therapy · doi:10.1521/ijct.2009.2.4.373 · Cited by 95 · cited 2×
“Although in need of future examination, it is tentatively suggested in light of the current results that reductions in such ‘‘blindness’’ to alternatives due to rigid thought patterns may (partly) underlie the efficacy of mindfulness in treatment of the above conditions [34,41].”
BackgroundResultThe Social Nature of Male Suicide: A New Analytic Model
Coleman, D. K., Kaplan, M. S., & Casey, J. T. (2011) · International Journal of Men s Health · doi:10.3149/jmh.1003.240 · Cited by 40
Personal need for structure, the Einstellung task, and the effects of stress
Schultz, P. W., & Searleman, A. (1998) · Personality and Individual Differences · doi:10.1016/s0191-8869(97)00179-7 · Cited by 39
Resolving task rule incongruence during task switching by competitor rule suppression.
Meiran, N., Hsieh, S., & Dimov, E. (2010) · Journal of Experimental Psychology Learning Memory and Cognition · doi:10.1037/a0019761 · Cited by 35
Self-citationGeneralization of problem-solving rigidity.
Cowen, E. L., Wiener, M., & Hess, J. (1953) · Journal of Consulting Psychology · doi:10.1037/h0059038 · Cited by 32
Miró, M. T., Perestelo‐Pérez, L., Ramos, J. P., Rivero, A., González‐Lorenzo, M., Fuente, J. A. D. L., & Serrano, P. (2011) · Revista de Psicopatología y Psicología Clínica · doi:10.5944/rppc.vol.16.num.1.2011.10347 · Cited by 32
Breaking‐out‐of‐the‐box in organizations
Cangemi, J. P., & Miller, R. L. (2007) · Journal of Management Development · doi:10.1108/02621710710748239 · Cited by 31
Joiner, T. E., Schmidt, N. B., & Singh, D. N. (1994) · International Journal of Eating Disorders · doi:10.1002/1098-108x(199409)16:2 · Cited by 27
Toward a cognitive therapy for suicidal individuals.
Ellis, T. E. (1986) · Professional Psychology Research and Practice · doi:10.1037/0735-7028.17.2.125 · Cited by 26
Cognitive effects of psychostimulant medication in hyperactive children
Everett, J. L., Thomas, J., Cote, F., Levesque, J., & Michaud, D. (1991) · Child Psychiatry & Human Development · doi:10.1007/bf00707786 · Cited by 22
Readings in Social Psychology: The Art and Science of Research
Fein, S., & Spencer, S. (1996) · Medical Entomology and Zoology · Cited by 18
Toward a cognitive therapy for suicidal individuals.
Ellis, T. E. (1986) · Professional Psychology Research and Practice · doi:10.1037//0735-7028.17.2.125 · Cited by 18
Reframing: A therapeutic technique in group counseling
Clark, A. J. (1998) · The Journal for Specialists in Group Work · doi:10.1080/01933929808411382 · Cited by 12
Mindfulness and the mindful therapist: possible contributions to hypnosis
Harrer, M. E. (2009) · Contemporary Hypnosis · doi:10.1002/ch.388 · Cited by 10
Williams, M. C., Littell, R. R., Reinoso, C., & Greve, K. W. (1994) · Neuropsychology · doi:10.1037/0894-4105.8.2.187 · Cited by 9
Resolving task rule incongruence during task switching by competitor rule suppression
Meiran, N., & Hsieh, S. (2011) · PsycEXTRA Dataset · doi:10.1037/e512592013-167 · Cited by 8
Self-citationOn the interchangeability of individually administered and group administered ability tests
Nevo, B., & Sela, R. (2003) · High Ability Studies · doi:10.1080/1359813032000163906 · Cited by 4
Misdiagnosis of Culturally Diverse Students
Beljan, P. (2021) · Routledge eBooks · doi:10.4324/9781003238157-18 · Cited by 2
Flagged first, then by citations
1 of the 69 references couldn’t be matched to a known paper.
Cited by
Sorted by citations
Mindfulness in organizations: a cross-level review
Sutcliffe, K. M., Vogus, T. J., & Dane, E. (2016) · Annual Review of Organizational Psychology and Organizational Behavior · doi:10.1146/annurev-orgpsych-041015-062531 · Cited by 428
Galante, J., Friedrich, C., Dawson, A. F., Modrego-Alarcón, M., Gebbing, P., Delgado-Suárez, I., Gupta, R., Dean, L., Dalgleish, T., White, I. R., et al. (2021) · PLOS Medicine · doi:10.1371/journal.pmed.1003481 · Cited by 319
“Year, Country N Participants (category) Mean Age (SD) Women Outcomes Intervention (category) Control/s (category) Outcome Time Points Xu 2015 [277], China 90 Adults (1) 31 (8) 56% Dis, Mindf Mindfulness training (2) Waitlist (1) Post–int Yazdanimehr 2016 [278,279], Iran 80 Pregnant women (2) 26 (5.2) 100% Anx, Dep, Di…”
InfluentialDiamond, A. D., & Ling, D. S. (2019) · Oxford University Press eBooks · doi:10.1093/oso/9780199974467.003.0008 · Cited by 343
Garland, E. L., Froeliger, B., Zeidan, F., Partin, K., & Howard, M. O. (2013) · Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews · doi:10.1016/j.neubiorev.2013.08.006 · Cited by 277
Garland, E. L., Froeliger, B., & Howard, M. O. (2014) · Frontiers in Psychiatry · doi:10.3389/fpsyt.2013.00173 · Cited by 268
Metadata
- Authors
- Greenberg, J., Reiner, K., & Meiran, N.
- Affiliations
- Ben-Gurion University of the Negev (IL)
- Corresponding author
- Greenberg, Jonathan
- Venue
- PLoS ONE
- Publisher
- Public Library of Science (PLoS)
- Published
- 2012-05-15
- Volume
- 7
- Issue
- 5
- Pages
- e36206
- ISSN
- 1932-6203 (ISSN-L)
- PMC
- PMC3352909
- OpenAlex
- W2026631848
- Cited by
- 214
- References
- 69
- Citations by year
- 2026: 7 · 2025: 7 · 2024: 9 · 2023: 36 · 2022: 16 · 2021: 24 · 2020: 14 · 2019: 14 · 2018: 18 · 2017: 8 · 2016: 22 · 2015: 11 · 2014: 13 · 2013: 14 · 2012: 1
- FWCI
- 14.84
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- gold
- doi.org
- Locations
- PLoS ONE (publishedVersion, cc-by)
- Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (publishedVersion, cc-by)
- PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion, cc-by-sa)
- Funders
- Israel Science Foundation
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Mindfulness and Compassion Interventions
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Cognitive Functions and Memory
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Cognitive Abilities and Testing
- Keywords
- mindfulness meditation, cognitive rigidity, Einstellung effect, problem solving, meditation retreats, cognitive flexibility
- MeSH terms
- Adult, Aged, Cognition, Female, Humans, Male
About these checks
Registry, retraction, Cites and statistics results are computed, not judged, with one exception: a printed reference that no index lists is read once by a model before it counts as a citation error. Claims are extracted by a model and kept only when their quote appears verbatim in the text; each cited source is then checked, with a model’s help, for whether it says what the claim relies on. Those verdicts can be wrong — read the claim’s quote and the cited source before relying on one.
Statistics and arithmetic are recomputed, not judged.
Confidence bands are shown only for fields calibrated on our annotated test set. None is calibrated yet, so no band is shown.
What counts as a claim ›How we measure confidence ›How we check this ›
Are you an author, or do you see a problem with this page? Request a review
