Mindfulness-based Mind Fitness Training

Mindfulness-Based Mind Fitness Training (MMFT) has been tested through rigorous neuroscience and stress physiology research, funded by the U.S. Department of Defense and other foundations. Since 2008, Dr. Elizabeth Stanley and her collaborators have conducted four studies with combat troops preparing to deploy to Iraq and Afghanistan—with strong positive results published in top-tier scientific journals.Some key benefits supported by the research:

• Improved Cognitive Performance: Greater sustained attention, better working memory capacity, and fewer negative emotions
• Better Physiological Self-Regulation and Resilience: more effective stress responses during challenge and faster/more complete recovery afterwards, better-quality sleep, and improved biomarkers of resilience and immune functioning
• Better Regulation of Negative Emotions: Greater pain tolerance, better pain regulation, lower perceived stress, less emotional reactivity, and better impulse control

While these benefits were documented among troops preparing for deployment, they are available to everyone! For those of us facing less stressful circumstances than combat, the beneficial outcomes are likely to be even greater.