Among people receiving Mindfulness-Oriented Recovery Enhancement for opioid misuse, those who showed higher levels of endogenous theta brainwave activity during meditation subsequently required lower doses of opioids. Theta oscillations, which are linked to relaxation and focused attention, may serve as a neural marker predicting treatment response.
Theta oscillations (4 to 8 Hz) in frontal midline brain regions, which support self-regulation, are inversely linked to default mode network activity involved in self-referential processing. Addiction involves impaired self-regulation and default mode network dysfunction. In a mechanistic study of 165 long-term opioid users, Mindfulness-Oriented Recovery Enhancement increased frontal midline theta during meditation compared to supportive psychotherapy. Theta during meditation was associated with self-transcendent experiences such as ego dissolution and bliss. Increased theta mediated the treatment's effect on reducing opioid misuse, suggesting mindfulness-induced theta stimulation may reset default mode network dysfunction to inhibit addictive behavior.