Neural Signatures of Pain Modulation in Short-Term and Long-Term Mindfulness Training: A Randomized Active-Control Trial
American Journal of Psychiatry July 28, 2022 Joseph Wielgosz, Tammi R. A. Kral, D. Perlman et al. 21 citations
Mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) reduced neural pain responses in healthy adults compared to an active control program. In a randomized trial with 115 participants, MBSR produced a moderate decrease in the neurologic pain signature (NPS) relative to a health enhancement program (Cohen's d=-0.43) and from before to after the intervention (d=-0.47). Subjective pain unpleasantness also decreased modestly in both MBSR and the active control compared to a waiting list. Long-term meditators reported lower pain than nonmeditators but showed no difference in neural pain signatures. Among long-term meditators, cumulative practice during intensive retreats, but not daily practice, was linked to reduced stimulus-independent pain processing (r=-0.65).