Mindfulness sharpens attention

• decreases distractibility and increases concentration, even while multitasking
• reduces mind-wandering
• increases ability to solve problems
• counters habituation—the tendency to stop paying attention to new information in our environment
• Improved attention seems to last up to five years after mindfulness training

Mindfulness decreases stress

• lessens the inflammatory response in people exposed to psychological stressors, especially in long-term meditators
• dampens activity in the amygdala  and increases connections between the amygdala and prefrontal cortex so that we are less reactive to stressors and recover more quickly
• decreases a tendency to focus on the negative, also supported here 

Mindfulness improves emotional stability

• lessens reactivity in emotionally charged situations reactivity in emotionally charged situations and facilitates faster recovery from stressful situations.  Brain function in experienced meditators indicated a lasting trait of emotional stability.
  

Mindfulness increases compassion

• increases brain activity in networks related to caring and kindness
• ​increases compassionate response to suffering
• increases our willingness to take action to relieve suffering by lessening amygdala activity and activating brain circuits connected to love
• quiets down the "default network," the part of the brain that--when not busy with focused activity-- ruminates about ourselves and our place in the world
• increases generosity

Summary of research on school based mindfulness programs:

• http://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/research_round_up_school_based_mindfulness_programs