Mindfulness training as cognitive training in high- demand cohorts: An initial study in elite military servicemembers Anthony P. Zanesco a , Ekaterina Denkova a , Scott L. Rogers b , William K. MacNulty c , Amishi P. Jha a, * a Department of Psychology, University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL, United States b School of Law, University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL, United States c United States Public Health Service Commissioned Corps, Rockville, MD, United States *Corresponding author: Tel.: +1-305-284-8148, e-mail address: a.jha@miami.edu Abstract Cognitive ability is a key selection criterion for entry into many elite professions. Herein, we investigate whether mindfulness training (MT) can enhance cognitive performance in elite military forces. The cognitive effects of a short-form 8-h MT program contextualized for mil- itary cohorts, referred to as Mindfulness-Based Attention Training (MBAT), were assessed. Servicemembers received either a 2-week (n ¼ 40) or 4-week (n ¼ 36) version of MBAT or no training (NTC, n ¼ 44). Sustained attention and working memory task performance along with self-reported cognitive failures were assessed at study onset (T1) and 8-weeks later (T2). In contrast to both the NTC and 2-week MT groups, the 4-week MT group significantly im- proved over time on attention and working memory outcome measures. Among the 4-week more so than the 2-week MBAT participants, working memory performance improvements were correlated with their amount of out-of-class MT practice. In addition to these group-wise effects, all participants receiving MBAT decreased in their self-reported cognitive failures from T1 to T2. Importantly, none of these improvements were related to self-reported task motivation. Together, these results suggest that short-form MT, when delivered over a 4-week delivery schedule, may be an effective cognitive training tool in elite military cohorts. Keywords Attention, Cognitive training, Mindfulness, Working memory Progress in Brain Research, ISSN 0079-6123, https://doi.org/10.1016/bs.pbr.2018.10.001 © 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. 1 ARTICLE IN PRESS