Interindividual differences in mindfulness are linked to sleep-EEG characteristics

M Wunderlin; M Studler; L R R Gianotti; M A Züst; D Knoch

doi:10.1093/sleep/zsae101

Interindividual differences in mindfulness are linked to sleep-EEG characteristics

Sleep. 2024 Apr 27:zsae101. doi: 10.1093/sleep/zsae101. Online ahead of print.

Authors

M Wunderlin^{1

2}, M Studler¹, L R R Gianotti¹, M A Züst², D Knoch¹

Affiliations

¹ Department of Social Neuroscience and Social Psychology, Institute of Psychology, University of Bern, Fabrikstrasse 8, Bern 3012, Switzerland.
² University Hospital of Old Age Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Bern, Bolligenstrasse 111, 3000 Bern 60, Switzerland.

PMID: 38676404
DOI: 10.1093/sleep/zsae101

Abstract

Study objectives: Mindfulness describes the ability to focus on the presence, including one's thoughts and feelings. Trait mindfulness - a person's inherent tendency to be mindful - has been connected to increased subjective sleep quality, but evidence from objective EEG-based sleep measures is lacking. Here, we investigate whether objective EEG-based sleep parameters explain interindividual differences in trait mindfulness.

Methods: Whole-night polysomnographic data were gathered from 52 healthy adults (27 females; agemean = 21.5 (SE = 0.28)) in their home using a portable high-density EEG-device. Trait mindfulness was assessed using the Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire short form (FFMQ-SF).

Results: Trait mindfulness was positively correlated at trend-level with the percentage of REM, but not N1, N2 or SWS. Additionally, those exhibiting less REM beta/gamma power and NREM beta power displayed higher trait mindfulness and vice versa. Lastly, we replicated findings connecting higher trait mindfulness to better subjective sleep quality.

Conclusions: REM sleep is pivotal for emotional processing. Decreased REM high-frequency activity was suggested to reflect adrenergic reduction that defuses affective experiences. Increased NREM high-frequency activity is a marker for cognitive hyperarousal in insomnia. We speculate that differences in trait mindfulness might be explained by differences in REM- and NREM-sleep functions that promote ideal emotional regulation and prevent hyperarousal.

Keywords: REM Sleep; emotion regulation; high-frequency power; hyperarousal; mindfulness.