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Analysis of institutional authors

Casedas, LuisCorresponding AuthorVadillo, Miguel A.Author

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March 2, 2020
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Does Mindfulness Meditation Training Enhance Executive Control? A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials in Adults

Publicated to:Mindfulness. 11 (2): 411-424 - 2020-02-01 11(2), DOI: 10.1007/s12671-019-01279-4

Authors: Casedas, Luis; Pirruccio, Vincenzo; Vadillo, Miguel A; Lupianez, Juan

Affiliations

Sapienza Univ Roma, Dept Psychol, Rome, Italy - Author
Univ Autonoma Madrid, Dept Psicol Basica, Madrid, Spain - Author
Univ Granada, Mind Brain & Behav Res Ctr, Dept Expt Psychol, Granada, Spain - Author

Abstract

Objectives Over the last years, mindfulness meditation has been claimed to be effective in enhancing several cognitive domains, including executive control. However, these claims have been mostly based on findings pertaining to case-control and cross-sectional studies, which are by nature unable to reveal causal relationships. Aiming to address this issue, we set out to conduct the first quantitative assessment of the literature concerning mindfulness meditation as an enhancer for executive control considering only randomized controlled studies. Methods We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis covering experimental studies testing the effect of mindfulness meditation training on at least one executive control function (working memory, inhibitory control, or cognitive flexibility) in adult samples. Four databases were examined, resulting in the identification of 822 candidate references. After a systematic filtering process, a set of 16 studies was retained for evaluation, of which 13 could be included in a subsequent meta-analysis. Results We found an average effect size of g = 0.34 [0.16, 0.51], indicating a small-to-medium effect of mindfulness meditation training in enhancing executive control. Effect sizes for individual functions were g = 0.42 [0.10, 0.74] for working memory, g = 0.42 [0.20, 0.63] for inhibitory control, and g = 0.09 [-0.13, 0.31] for cognitive flexibility. Funnel plot asymmetry analysis revealed no evidence of publication bias. Conclusions Taken together, our findings provide preliminary and moderate yet positive evidence supporting the enhancing effects of mindfulness meditation on executive control. Shortcomings of included studies and considerations for future empirical and meta-analytical research are discussed.

Keywords

AttentionCognitive enhancementCognitive flexibilityExecutive controlExecutive functionsImprovementsInhibitory controlMechanismsMeditationMindMindfulnessOlder-adultsPerformanceResponse-inhibitionShort-term meditationStress reductionWorking memoryWorking-memory capacity

Quality index

Bibliometric impact. Analysis of the contribution and dissemination channel

The work has been published in the journal Mindfulness due to its progression and the good impact it has achieved in recent years, according to the agency WoS (JCR), it has become a reference in its field. In the year of publication of the work, 2020, it was in position 22/130, thus managing to position itself as a Q1 (Primer Cuartil), in the category Psychology, Clinical.

From a relative perspective, and based on the normalized impact indicator calculated from World Citations provided by WoS (ESI, Clarivate), it yields a value for the citation normalization relative to the expected citation rate of: 4.92. This indicates that, compared to works in the same discipline and in the same year of publication, it ranks as a work cited above average. (source consulted: ESI Nov 14, 2024)

This information is reinforced by other indicators of the same type, which, although dynamic over time and dependent on the set of average global citations at the time of their calculation, consistently position the work at some point among the top 50% most cited in its field:

  • Weighted Average of Normalized Impact by the Scopus agency: 5.49 (source consulted: FECYT Feb 2024)
  • Field Citation Ratio (FCR) from Dimensions: 23.56 (source consulted: Dimensions Jul 2025)

Specifically, and according to different indexing agencies, this work has accumulated citations as of 2025-07-17, the following number of citations:

  • WoS: 74
  • Scopus: 78

Impact and social visibility

From the perspective of influence or social adoption, and based on metrics associated with mentions and interactions provided by agencies specializing in calculating the so-called "Alternative or Social Metrics," we can highlight as of 2025-07-17:

  • The use, from an academic perspective evidenced by the Altmetric agency indicator referring to aggregations made by the personal bibliographic manager Mendeley, gives us a total of: 209.
  • The use of this contribution in bookmarks, code forks, additions to favorite lists for recurrent reading, as well as general views, indicates that someone is using the publication as a basis for their current work. This may be a notable indicator of future more formal and academic citations. This claim is supported by the result of the "Capture" indicator, which yields a total of: 217 (PlumX).

With a more dissemination-oriented intent and targeting more general audiences, we can observe other more global scores such as:

  • The Total Score from Altmetric: 33.
  • The number of mentions on the social network X (formerly Twitter): 5 (Altmetric).
  • The number of mentions in news outlets: 4 (Altmetric).

It is essential to present evidence supporting full alignment with institutional principles and guidelines on Open Science and the Conservation and Dissemination of Intellectual Heritage. A clear example of this is:

  • The work has been submitted to a journal whose editorial policy allows open Open Access publication.

Leadership analysis of institutional authors

This work has been carried out with international collaboration, specifically with researchers from: Italy.

There is a significant leadership presence as some of the institution’s authors appear as the first or last signer, detailed as follows: First Author (CASEDAS ALCAIDE, LUIS) .

the author responsible for correspondence tasks has been CASEDAS ALCAIDE, LUIS.