Mindfulness and Memory: a Review of Findings and a Potential Model

Abstract

Memory and mindfulness are intimately related; in the Buddhist tradition, mindfulness and memory share the same meaning, and mindfulness seems to tap onto key elements in memory, such as attention and consciousness. The purpose of this paper is to review the literature on mindfulness and memory and to propose a unifying model describing the pathways through which mindfulness is associated with memory. To this end, studies on mindfulness and memory were assessed and presented in terms of the memory system examined: working memory, procedural, autobiographical, semantic, and episodic. We argue that although mindfulness seems to be associated with memory performance, the nature of this association may be determined by the type of memory system examined. Furthermore, it is suggested that decision-making processes may play a crucial role in the effects of mindfulness on memory.