The psychological and neurophysiological concomitants of mindfulness forms of meditation

A review of psychological and neurophysiological research on mindfulness meditation finds that mindfulness-based therapeutic interventions appear effective for depression, anxiety, psychosis, borderline personality disorder, and suicidal or self-harm behavior. Mindfulness meditation alone reduces substance use and recidivism in incarcerated populations, but its direct effectiveness for psychiatric disorders has not been specifically investigated. Electroencephalography research shows increased alpha, theta, and beta activity in frontal and posterior regions, with some gamma band effects, and theta activity strongly relates to meditation experience, though findings are inconsistent. Few neuroimaging studies suggest volumetric and functional changes in key brain regions, indicating a promising avenue for future research.

Study at a glance

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To provide a comprehensive review and evaluation of the psychological and neurophysiological literature pertaining to mindfulness meditation. METHODS: A search for papers in English was undertaken using PsycINFO (from 1804 onward), MedLine (from 1966 onward) and the Cochrane Library with the following search terms: Vipassana, Mindfulness, Meditation, Zen, Insight, EEG, ERP, fMRI, neuroimaging and intervention. In addition, retrieved papers and reports known to the authors were also reviewed for additional relevant literature. RESULTS: Mindfulness-based therapeutic interventions appear to be effective in the treatment of depression, anxiety, psychosis, borderline personality disorder and suicidal/self-harm behaviour. Mindfulness meditation per se is effective in reducing substance use and recidivism rates in incarcerated populations but has not been specifically investigated in populations with psychiatric disorders. Electroencephalography research suggests increased alpha, theta and beta activity in frontal and posterior regions, some gamma band effects, with theta activity strongly related to level of experience of meditation; however, these findings have not been consistent. The few neuroimaging studies that have been conducted suggest volumetric and functional change in key brain regions. CONCLUSIONS: Preliminary findings from treatment outcome studies provide support for the application of mindfulness-based interventions in the treatment of affective, anxiety and personality disorders. However, direct evidence for the effectiveness of mindfulness meditation per se in the treatment of psychiatric disorders is needed. Current neurophysiological and imaging research findings have identified neural changes in association with meditation and provide a potentially promising avenue for future research.