Measuring cognitive outcomes in mindfulness-based intervention research: a reflection on confounding factors and methodological limitations

•The effects of MBIs on cognition remain variable and depend on context.•Methodological issues in MBI research must be considered for proper interpretation.•Informed readers should consider variability in criteria that define an MBI.•Informed readers should consider limitations of assays used to measure cognition.•Informed readers should consider variability in methodological quality of MBI trials.