[The history of Mindfulness put to the test of current scientific data: unresolved questions].
L'Encephale December 1, 2014 M Trousselard, D Steiler, D Claverie et al.
Mindfulness is a universal human ability with roots in multiple religious and philosophical traditions, not only Buddhism and Hinduism but also Judaism, Islam, Christianity, and Western philosophy. It involves bringing complete, nonjudgmental attention to present-moment experience. The French language lacks a distinct term for mindfulness versus awareness, complicating its translation. The paper describes how mindfulness fosters concentration, attention, and acceptance, and reviews its positive effects on mental and physical health, particularly stress reduction from a physiological perspective. Neurobiological changes from mindfulness meditation, including modifications in cerebral networks and the default-mode network, are discussed, with evidence that practice decreases mind-wandering. Comparisons with relaxation techniques highlight technique-specific differences needing further study.