Mindfulness meditation training alters stress-related amygdala resting state functional connectivity: a randomized controlled trial
Social Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience June 5, 2015 Adrienne A. Taren, Peter J. Gianaros, Carol M. Greco et al. 232 citations
Higher perceived stress over the past month is associated with greater functional connectivity between the amygdala and the subgenual anterior cingulate cortex (sgACC) in a sample of 130 community adults. A subsequent randomized controlled trial with 35 stressed unemployed adults showed that a 3-day intensive mindfulness meditation training, compared to a relaxation training without mindfulness, reduced right amygdala-sgACC connectivity. The findings suggest that mindfulness meditation training may reverse stress-related increases in amygdala-sgACC connectivity, indicating a neural pathway for stress reduction.