Neurotransmitter-related functional connectivity changes in serotonin and dopamine systems after mindfulness in medication overuse headache.
Cephalalgia : an international journal of headache June 1, 2025 Davide Fedeli, Giuseppe Ciullo, Greta Demichelis et al. 7 citations
In people with chronic migraine and medication overuse headache, adding mindfulness practice to standard treatment was associated with increased functional connectivity in brain networks linked to serotonin and dopamine systems. After one year, those who practiced mindfulness showed greater serotonin-related connectivity in the caudate and accumbens nuclei, and greater dopamine-related connectivity in the right insular cortex, compared to those receiving standard treatment alone. These brain regions are involved in emotional, cognitive, and sensory processing of pain and addiction. The findings suggest that mindfulness may influence serotonin and dopamine systems, potentially contributing to its beneficial effects in chronic pain management.