The interrelationship between cognitive control and affect in an intensive Vipassana retreat

We proposed a longitudinal study of intensive Vipassana meditation to investigate training-related changes in cognitive control, and to explore the relationship between cognitive control and growth in emotional well-being. The proposed data collection included participants undergoing one month of intensive meditative training at Spirit Rock Meditation Center between February and March 2009, as well as a demographically matched comparison group not currently undergoing intensive practice. Our first aim is to explore the trajectory of training-related changes in attentional vigilance, response inhibition, and working memory capacity during intensive Vipassana training. Our second aim is to examine the relationship between these components of cognitive control and changes in psychological constructs of personality, emotional regulation, self-esteem, and well-being.