Dynamic processes of mindfulness-based alterations in pain perception.
Frontiers in neuroscience January 1, 2023 Chen Lu, Vera Moliadze, Frauke Nees 13 citations
Mindfulness-based processes can enhance attention and produce analgesia, making them effective for pain interventions. This review introduces the concept of mindfulness and its components as relevant to pain mechanisms, noting that differences in definitions, study design, and attention direction strategies must be considered when synthesizing findings. A dynamic process model of mindfulness-based analgesia is proposed: early effects stem from improved cognitive regulation, while later effects involve reduced interference between cognitive and affective factors. With practice, mechanisms shift, as neural activation changes from increased activity in the ACC and aINS in beginners to increased pINS and reduced lPFC activity in experts.