Biological psychiatry. Cognitive neuroscience and neuroimaging
April 1, 2025
Saampras Ganesan, Fernando A Barrios, Ishaan Batta et al.
6 citations
Meditation practices, which have shown therapeutic benefits for conditions like depression, pain, addiction, and anxiety, have been studied with neuroimaging over the past decade. However, existing neuroscientific models are based on small, heterogeneous datasets, limiting generalizability and replicability. The ENIGMA-Meditation consortium is the first worldwide collaborative effort to conduct systematic meta- and mega-analyses of globally distributed neuroimaging data using standardized methods. This framework aims to improve statistical power and address multidomain heterogeneity in meditation practice types, experience, and experimental design. The consortium will generate rigorous neuroscientific insights into the mechanisms underlying meditation's therapeutic effects on psychological and cognitive attributes.
Neuroscience and biobehavioral reviews
June 1, 2025
Resh S Gupta, Wendy Heller, Todd S Braver
3 citations
Inconsistent findings linking anxiety, cognitive control, and mindfulness may stem from imprecise definitions and measurements of these concepts. This review argues that anxiety, cognitive control, and mindfulness are each multidimensional, and studies often examine different dimensions using varied behavioral or neural measures, leading to mixed results. The authors propose a framework that aligns specific anxiety dimensions with particular mindfulness states and interventions, predicting distinct effects on proactive versus reactive cognitive control. They suggest using precisely targeted experimental paradigms and metrics to test these relationships, and outline novel studies to rigorously evaluate the framework.
Biological psychiatry. Cognitive neuroscience and neuroimaging
April 1, 2025
Jarrod A Lewis-Peacock, Tor D Wager, Todd S Braver
2 citations
Using multivariate predictive models to identify brain mechanisms underlying the benefits of mindfulness meditation is a promising methodology that departs from conventional brain mapping. Two strategies—state induction and neuromarker identification—are highlighted, with examples distinguishing focused attention from mind wandering and showing effects of mindfulness interventions on somatic pain and drug-related cravings. Future research must address tradeoffs between personalized and population-based predictive modeling.