Authors: Sridivya Modekrutti
Abstract: This study measures the immediate effects of Anapanasati meditation on cognitive performance, specifically focusing on insight learning among high school students aged 14-18. The growing interest in meditation within Western cultures has prompted deeper exploration into its potential benefits for cognitive functions like concentration, awareness, and memory retention. Anapanasati meditation, a traditional Buddhist breathing technique, is known to cultivate mindfulness and improve mental focus. This research assesses how a 15-minute session of Anapanasati meditation can affect students' immediate insight learning, a critical skill for problem-solving and creative thinking. The study employs a single-group pretest-posttest design to measure the impact of Anapanasati meditation on cognitive performance. A cohort of 18 high school students participated in a 15-minute guided Anapanasati meditation session, after which they were assigned a series of insight-based problem-solving tasks to assess any changes in cognitive performance. The same tasks were administered before the meditation session for baseline comparison. The results showed a significant improvement in insight learning, with a 16% increase in overall problem-solving performance post-meditation, suggesting that even a brief session of Anapanasati meditation can have immediate positive effects on cognitive functions. These findings highlight the potential for integrating mindfulness practices into educational settings to enhance cognitive skills and stress resilience among high
DOI: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.23256187
