Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

A translational neuroscience perspective on mindfulness meditation as a prevention strategy

  • Essay
  • Published:
Translational Behavioral Medicine

Abstract

Mindfulness meditation research mainly focuses on psychological outcomes such as behavioral, cognitive, and emotional functioning. However, the neuroscience literature on mindfulness meditation has grown in recent years. This paper provides an overview of relevant neuroscience and psychological research on the effects of mindfulness meditation. We propose a translational prevention framework of mindfulness and its effects. Drawing upon the principles of prevention science, this framework integrates neuroscience and prevention research and postulates underlying brain regulatory mechanisms that explain the impact of mindfulness on psychological outcomes via self-regulation mechanisms linked to underlying brain systems. We conclude by discussing potential clinical and practice implications of this model and directions for future research.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Hart W. The Art of Living: Vipassana Meditation. New York, NY: Harper and Row; 1987.

  2. Tang YY, Holzel BK, Posner MI. The neuroscience of mindfulness meditation. Nat Rev Neurosci. 2015; 16: 213-225.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Tang YY, Yang L, Leve LD, et al. Improving executive function and its neurobiological mechanisms through a mindfulness-based intervention: advances within the field of developmental neuroscience. Child Dev Perspect. 2012; 6: 361-366.

    PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  4. Hölzel BK, Lazar SW, Gard T, et al. How does mindfulness meditation work? Proposing mechanisms of action from a conceptual and neural perspective. Perspect Psychol Sci. 2011; 6: 537-559.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Kabat-Zinn J. Full catastrophe living: using the wisdom of your body and mind to face stress, pain, and illness. New York: NY Delta Trade Paperbacks; 1990.

  6. Tang YY et al. Short-term meditation training improves attention and self-regulation. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2007; 104: 17152-17156.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  7. Tang YY, Ma Y, Fan Y, et al. Central and autonomic nervous system interaction is altered by short term meditation. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2009; 106: 8865-8870.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  8. Chiesa A, Malinowski P. Mindfulness-based approaches: are they all the same? J Clin Psychol. 2011; 67: 404-424.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Lutz A, Slagter HA, Dunne JD, et al. Attention regulation and monitoring in meditation. Trends Cogn Sci. 2008; 12: 163-169.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  10. Gottfredson DC, Cook TD, Gardner FE, et al. Standards of evidence for efficacy, effectiveness, and scale-up research in prevention science: next generation. Prev Sci. 2015; 16(7): 893-926.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  11. Moffitt TE, Arseneault L, Belsky D, et al. A gradient of childhood self-control predicts health, wealth, and public safety. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2011; 108: 2693-8.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  12. Diamond A, Lee K. Interventions shown to aid executive function development in children 4 to 12 years old. Science. 2011; 333: 959-64.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  13. Petersen SE, Posner MI. The attention system of the human brain: 20 years after. Annu Rev Neurosci. 2012; 35: 73-89.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  14. Bush G, Luu P, Posner MI. Cognitive and emotional influences in anterior cingulate cortex. Trends Cogn Sci. 2000; 4: 215-222.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  15. Posner MI, Rothbart MK, Sheese BE, et al. The anterior cingulate gyrus and the mechanism of self-regulation. Cogn Affect Behav Neurosci. 2007; 7: 391-5.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  16. Gross JJ, ed. In: Gross JJ (ed), Handbook of Emotion Regulation 2nd (edn) (p. 3–20). New York, NY: Guildford Press; 2014.

  17. Phelps EA, Delgado MR, Nearing KI, et al. Extinction learning in humans: role of the amygdala and vmPFC. Neuron. 2004; 43: 897-905.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  18. Tang YY, Tang R. Rethinking the future directions of mindfulness field. Psychol Inq. 2015; doi:10.1080/1047840X.2015.1075850.

  19. Tang YY, Tang R. Mindfulness: mechanism and application. In: Toga AW, ed. Brain Mapping: an Encyclopedic Reference. Elsevier: Academic; 2015.

    Google Scholar 

  20. Northoff G, Heinzel A, de Greck M, et al. Self-referential processing in our brain—a meta-analysis of imaging studies on the self. Neuroimage. 2006; 31: 440-57.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  21. Hölzel BK et al. Differential engagement of anterior cingulate and adjacent medial frontal cortex in adept meditators and non-meditators. Neurosci Lett. 2007; 421: 16-21.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  22. Allen M et al. Cognitive-affective neural plasticity following active-controlled mindfulness intervention. J Neurosci. 2012; 32: 15601-15610.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  23. Teper R, Segal ZV, Inzlicht M. Inside the mindful mind: how mindfulness enhances emotion regulation through improvements in executive control. Curr Dir Psychol Sci. 2013; 22: 449-454.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  24. Goldin PR, Gross JJ. Effects of mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) on emotion regulation in social anxiety disorder. Emotion. 2010; 10: 83-91.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  25. Taylor VA et al. Impact of mindfulness on the neural responses to emotional pictures in experienced and beginner meditators. Neuroimage. 2011; 57: 1524-1533.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  26. Farb NAS et al. Attending to the present: mindfulness meditation reveals distinct neural modes of self-reference. Soc Cogn Affect Neurosci. 2007; 2: 313-322.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  27. Brewer JA et al. Meditation experience is associated with differences in default mode network activity and connectivity. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2011; 108: 20254-20259.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  28. Goldstein RZ, Craig AD, Bechara A, et al. The neurocircuitry of impaired insight in drug addiction. Trends Cogn Sci. 2009; 13: 372-80.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  29. Droutman V, Read SJ, Bechara A. Revisiting the role of the insula in addiction. Trends Cogn Sci. 2015; 19: 414-20.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  30. Fox KC et al. Is meditation associated with altered brain structure? A systematic review and meta-analysis of morphometric neuroimaging in meditation practitioners. Neurosci Biobehav Rev. 2014; 43C: 48-73.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  31. Tang YY, Posner MI. In: Brown KW, Creswell JD, Ryan RM, eds. Handbook of Mindfulness: Theory, Research, and Practice Ch. 5 (p. 81–89). New York, NY: Guildford Press; 2014.

  32. Tang YY, Lu Q, Geng X, et al. Short-term meditation induces white 822 matter changes in the anterior cingulate. Proc Natl Acad Sci. 2010; 823 107: 15649-15652.

  33. Tang YY, Tang R. In: Norvilitis JM, ed. ADHD—New Directions in Diagnosis and Treatment Ch.13 (p.293–301). Rejika, Croatia: InTech Press; 2015.

  34. Barkley RA. Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder: a Handbook for Diagnosis and Treatment. New York: Guilford Press; 1998.

    Google Scholar 

  35. Bush G. Cingulate, frontal, and parietal cortical dysfunction in attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. Biol Psychiatry. 2011; 69: 1160-7.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  36. Plichta MM, Scheres A. Ventral-striatal responsiveness during reward anticipation in ADHD and its relation to trait impulsivity in the healthy population: a meta-analytic review of the fMRI literature. Neurosci Biobehav Rev. 2014; 38: 125-34.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  37. Castellanos FX, Proal E. Large-scale brain systems in ADHD: beyond the prefrontal-striatal model. Trends Cogn Sci. 2012; 16: 7-26.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  38. Zylowska L. The Mindfulness Prescription for Adult ADHD: an 8-Step Program for Strengthening Attention, Managing Emotions, and Achieving your Goals. Boston: Shambhala; 2012.

    Google Scholar 

  39. Mitchell JT, Zylowska L, Kollins SH. Mindfulness meditation training for attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder in adulthood: current empirical support, treatment overview, and future directions. Cogn Behav Pract. 2015; 22: 172-191.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  40. Ortner CNM, Kilner SJ, Zelazo PD. Mindfulness meditation and reduced emotional interference on a cognitive task. Motiv Emot. 2007; 31: 271-283.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  41. Goleman DJ, Schwartz GE. Meditation as an intervention in stress reactivity. J Consult Clin Psychol. 1976; 44: 456-466.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  42. Robins CJ, Keng S-L, Ekblad AG, et al. Effects of mindfulness-based stress reduction on emotional experience and expression: a randomized controlled trial. J Clin Psychol. 2012; 68: 117-131.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  43. Chambers R, Lo BCY, Allen NB. The impact of intensive mindfulness training on attentional control, cognitive style, and affect. Cogn Ther Res. 2008; 32: 303-322.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  44. Ding X, Tang YY, Tang R, et al. Improving creativity performance by short-term meditation. Behav Brain Funct. 2014; 10: 9.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  45. Jain S et al. A randomized controlled trial of mindfulness meditation versus relaxation training: effects on distress, positive states of mind, rumination, and distraction. Ann Behav Med. 2007; 33: 11-21.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  46. Raes F, Griffith JW, Van der Gucht K, et al. School-based prevention and reduction of depression in adolescents: a cluster-randomized controlled trial of a mindfulness group program. Mindfulness. 2014; 5(5): 477-486.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  47. Segal ZA, Williams MG, Teasdale JD. Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy for Depression: a New Approach to Preventing Relapse. New York: The Guilford Press; 2001.

    Google Scholar 

  48. van der Velden AM, Kuyken W, Wattar U, et al. A systematic review of mechanisms of change in mindfulness-based cognitive therapy in the treatment of recurrent major depressive disorder. Clin Psychol Rev. 2015; 37: 26-39.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  49. Klainin-Yobas P, Cho MAA, Creedy D. Efficacy of mindfulness-based interventions on depressive symptoms among people with mental disorders: a meta-analysis. Int J Nurs Stud. 2012; 49: 109-121.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  50. Piet J, Würtzen H, Zachariae R. The effect of mindfulness-based therapy on symptoms of anxiety and depression in adult cancer patients and survivors: a systematic review and meta-analysis. J Consult Clin Psychol. 2012; 80: 1007-1020.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  51. Bowen S et al. Relative efficacy of mindfulness-based relapse prevention, standard relapse prevention, and treatment as usual for substance use disorders: a randomized clinical trial. JAMA Psychiatr. 2014; 71: 547-556.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  52. Tang YY, Tang R, Posner MI. Brief meditation training induces smoking reduction. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2013; 110: 13971-13975.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  53. Westbrook C et al. Mindful attention reduces neural and self-reported cue-induced craving in smokers. Soc Cogn Affect Neurosci. 2013; 8: 73-84.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  54. Chiesa A, Serretti A. Are mindfulness-based interventions effective for substance use disorders? A systematic review of the evidence. Subst Use Misuse. 2014; 49: 492-512.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  55. Katz D, Toner B. A systematic review of gender differences in the effectiveness of mindfulness-based treatments for substance use disorders. Mindfulness. 2013; 4: 318-331.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  56. Tang YY, Posner MI. Theory and method in mindfulness neuroscience. Soc Cogn Affect Neurosci. 2013; 8: 118-20.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  57. Tang YY, Posner MI, Rothbart MK, et al. Circuitry of self-control and its role in reducing addiction. Trends Cogn Sci. 2015; 19: 439-444.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  58. Desbordes G et al. Effects of mindful-attention and compassion meditation training on amygdala response to emotional stimuli in an ordinary, non-meditative state. Front Hum Neurosci. 2012; 6: 292.

Download references

Acknowledgments

This work was supported by the Office of Naval Research and P50 DA035763. We thank Rongxiang Tang's assistance for manuscript preparation.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychological Sciences, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX, 79409, USA

    Yi-Yuan Tang PhD

  2. Department of Counseling Psychology and Human Services, University of Oregon, Eugene, OR, 97403, USA

    Leslie D Leve PhD

Authors
  1. Yi-Yuan Tang PhD
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Leslie D Leve PhD
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding authors

Correspondence to Yi-Yuan Tang PhD or Leslie D Leve PhD.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of interest

No author has a conflict of interest.

Adherence to ethical principles

No original research was conducted in this review. All ethical principles of the American Psychological Association were adhered to in the development and writing of this report.

Additional information

Implications

Practice: Practitioners should review the findings from more recent and more rigorous trials and partner with the research team to investigate whether these interventions are sufficiently manualized and portable to be able to be delivered as part of routine clinical practice.

Policy: Motivated by researchers and practitioners, policy makers should support the need for funding to help spur the translation from type I research to type 2 and 3 implementation work of low-cost and effective mindfulness preventions and interventions.

Research: Researchers should work with prevention scientists to conduct additional type 1 research that employs longitudinal, randomized, and actively controlled research designs and larger sample sizes to advance the understanding of the mechanisms of mindfulness meditation and connect neurobiological findings with findings from behavioral studies.

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Tang, YY., Leve, L.D. A translational neuroscience perspective on mindfulness meditation as a prevention strategy. Behav. Med. Pract. Policy Res. 6, 63–72 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13142-015-0360-x

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13142-015-0360-x

Keywords

Search

Navigation