Working memory capacity is a psychological characteristic that refers to an individual's ability to simultaneously hold and process multiple pieces of information in their mind. In cognitive psychology, this capacity can be quantified using systematic measurement procedures.

Working Memory Capacity

Rumination happens when a person spends a significant amount of time thinking and worrying about a problem. The thought that is ruminated feeds itself continuously, so the person becomes stuck in a constant cycle of worry that eventually distorts their perception of the reality of the situation.

Rumination

Attentional deployment is a type of emotional regulation strategy in which a person attempts to alter their emotional state by shifting their attention in a particular way as the situation arises. 

Attentional Deployment

Metacognitive awareness is the acknowledgement that one's thoughts are only thoughts, and they may not be facts. When used as a definition of mindfulness, it is called mindful metacognition, and conceptualizes mindfulness as an information processing style.

Mindful Metacognition/Metacognitive Awareness

Emotion regulation skills are developed through the promotion of metacognitive awareness as the individual disengages from cognitive actions, decreases rumination, and working memory capacity increases that allow for enhanced attentional deployment.

University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

Mindfulness meditation has been shown to lead to the development of skills that allow individuals to regulate their emotions effectively as they arise. 

Through fMRI and DTI, activity changes were shown in several regions, including: amygdala, insula, anterior cingulate cortex, and adjacent prefrontal cortex. 
Decreased activity in the amygdala and insula, paired with increased activity in the anterior cingulate cortex and adjacent prefrontal cortex, signifies both more stability in emotion regulation and better impulse control.

Effect of Mindfulness Meditation on Emotion Regulation

Davis, D. M., & Hayes, J. A. (2011). What are the benefits of mindfulness? A practice review of psychotherapy-related research. Psychotherapy, 48(2), 198–208. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0022062

What are the benefits of mindfulness

How Emotion Regulation is Developed Through Mindfulness Meditation

Improved self control abilities due to using mindfulness meditation in both smokers and nonsmokers. Increased activity in the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) and adjacent prefrontal cortex (mPFC), showing an improvement in self control and emotion regulation as a result of practicing mindfulness.

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