Neurobiological Changes Induced by Mindfulness and Meditation: A Systematic Review
<b><i>Background and Objectives:</i></b> Meditation and mindfulness, rooted in ancient traditions, enhance mental well-being by cultivating awareness and emotional control. It has been shown to induce neuroplasticity, increase cortical thickness, reduce amygdala reactivity, a...
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MDPI AG
2024-11-01
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| author | Andrea Calderone Desirée Latella Federica Impellizzeri Paolo de Pasquale Fausto Famà Angelo Quartarone Rocco Salvatore Calabrò |
| author_facet | Andrea Calderone Desirée Latella Federica Impellizzeri Paolo de Pasquale Fausto Famà Angelo Quartarone Rocco Salvatore Calabrò |
| author_sort | Andrea Calderone |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | <b><i>Background and Objectives:</i></b> Meditation and mindfulness, rooted in ancient traditions, enhance mental well-being by cultivating awareness and emotional control. It has been shown to induce neuroplasticity, increase cortical thickness, reduce amygdala reactivity, and improve brain connectivity and neurotransmitter levels, leading to improved emotional regulation, cognitive function, and stress resilience. This systematic review will synthesize research on neurobiological changes associated with mindfulness and meditation practices. <b><i>Materials and Methods:</i></b> Studies were identified from an online search of PubMed, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, and Embase databases without any search time range. This review has been registered on Open OSF (n) GV2JY. <b><i>Results:</i></b> Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) enhances brain regions related to emotional processing and sensory perception, improves psychological outcomes like anxiety and depression, and exhibits unique mechanisms of pain reduction compared to placebo. <b><i>Conclusions:</i></b> This review highlights that mindfulness, particularly through MBSR, improves emotional regulation and brain structure, reduces anxiety, and enhances stress resilience. Future research should focus on diverse populations and naturalistic settings to better understand and optimize these benefits. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-e361ce0db80a45a6bb3a933afce8ae4c |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2227-9059 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-11-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Biomedicines |
| spelling | doaj-art-e361ce0db80a45a6bb3a933afce8ae4c2025-08-20T02:07:58ZengMDPI AGBiomedicines2227-90592024-11-011211261310.3390/biomedicines12112613Neurobiological Changes Induced by Mindfulness and Meditation: A Systematic ReviewAndrea Calderone0Desirée Latella1Federica Impellizzeri2Paolo de Pasquale3Fausto Famà4Angelo Quartarone5Rocco Salvatore Calabrò6Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Messina, Piazza Pugliatti, 98122 Messina, ItalyIRCCS Centro Neurolesi Bonino-Pulejo, S.S. 113 Via Palermo, C.da Casazza, 98124 Messina, ItalyIRCCS Centro Neurolesi Bonino-Pulejo, S.S. 113 Via Palermo, C.da Casazza, 98124 Messina, ItalyIRCCS Centro Neurolesi Bonino-Pulejo, S.S. 113 Via Palermo, C.da Casazza, 98124 Messina, ItalyDepartment of Biomedical and Dental Sciences and Morphofunctional Imaging, University Hospital “G. Martino”—Via Consolare Valeria1, 98125 Messina, ItalyIRCCS Centro Neurolesi Bonino-Pulejo, S.S. 113 Via Palermo, C.da Casazza, 98124 Messina, ItalyIRCCS Centro Neurolesi Bonino-Pulejo, S.S. 113 Via Palermo, C.da Casazza, 98124 Messina, Italy<b><i>Background and Objectives:</i></b> Meditation and mindfulness, rooted in ancient traditions, enhance mental well-being by cultivating awareness and emotional control. It has been shown to induce neuroplasticity, increase cortical thickness, reduce amygdala reactivity, and improve brain connectivity and neurotransmitter levels, leading to improved emotional regulation, cognitive function, and stress resilience. This systematic review will synthesize research on neurobiological changes associated with mindfulness and meditation practices. <b><i>Materials and Methods:</i></b> Studies were identified from an online search of PubMed, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, and Embase databases without any search time range. This review has been registered on Open OSF (n) GV2JY. <b><i>Results:</i></b> Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) enhances brain regions related to emotional processing and sensory perception, improves psychological outcomes like anxiety and depression, and exhibits unique mechanisms of pain reduction compared to placebo. <b><i>Conclusions:</i></b> This review highlights that mindfulness, particularly through MBSR, improves emotional regulation and brain structure, reduces anxiety, and enhances stress resilience. Future research should focus on diverse populations and naturalistic settings to better understand and optimize these benefits.https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9059/12/11/2613mindfulnessneurobiological correlatesmeditationneurorehabilitation |
| spellingShingle | Andrea Calderone Desirée Latella Federica Impellizzeri Paolo de Pasquale Fausto Famà Angelo Quartarone Rocco Salvatore Calabrò Neurobiological Changes Induced by Mindfulness and Meditation: A Systematic Review Biomedicines mindfulness neurobiological correlates meditation neurorehabilitation |
| title | Neurobiological Changes Induced by Mindfulness and Meditation: A Systematic Review |
| title_full | Neurobiological Changes Induced by Mindfulness and Meditation: A Systematic Review |
| title_fullStr | Neurobiological Changes Induced by Mindfulness and Meditation: A Systematic Review |
| title_full_unstemmed | Neurobiological Changes Induced by Mindfulness and Meditation: A Systematic Review |
| title_short | Neurobiological Changes Induced by Mindfulness and Meditation: A Systematic Review |
| title_sort | neurobiological changes induced by mindfulness and meditation a systematic review |
| topic | mindfulness neurobiological correlates meditation neurorehabilitation |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9059/12/11/2613 |
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