Evaluating the Effects of Meditation on Sleep and Cognition
Abstract
Background: Meditation has gained popularity for potential health benefits, but claims of cognitive improvement are often based on flawed studies. A proposed mechanism for improved cognition is improved sleep, which lacks experimental validation. Objectives: This study aimed to (1) test if meditation improves sleep quality, (2) evaluate its effect on cognition, and (3) determine if changes in sleep quality relate to cognitive function. Methods: Participants (n=98) were assigned to Meditation (n=30), Nature Soundscapes (n=34), or Control (n=34) groups. They were assessed for sleep quality, cognition, mindfulness, anxiety, and depression at baseline, four weeks, and eight weeks. Results: Meditation increased mindfulness and reduced anxiety but did not significantly improve sleep quality or cognitive function. Higher mindfulness was linked to lower cognitive scores, though better sleep quality partially mitigated this.