Neural regulation of pain anticipation is associated with mindful behavior change in patients with anxiety or depression: A pilot study.
Psychiatry research. Neuroimaging March 1, 2025 Michael Datko, Jacqueline Lutz, Richa Gawande et al. 1 citation
Mindfulness training for primary care patients with anxiety or depression increased activity in the dorsal medial prefrontal cortex when anticipating pain, and this brain change was strongly linked to initiating health behavior changes. Greater increases in this brain response correlated with higher levels of action plan initiation, suggesting that mindfulness strengthens emotion regulation and goal-directed behavior in the face of discomfort.