Meditation reduces brain activity in the default mode network in children with active cancer and survivors.
Pediatric blood & cancer October 1, 2022 Aneesh Hehr, Allesandra Iadipaolo, Austin Morales et al.
Meditation techniques, including a martial arts-based form combining focused attention and mindful acceptance, lower activation in default mode network (DMN) regions—the medial frontal cortex, precuneus, and posterior cingulate cortex—in children with cancer when they watch distress-inducing video clips, compared to passively viewing the clips. Meditation may modulate DMN activity more effectively than distraction, a non-meditation emotion regulation strategy. No differences in self-reported distress ratings appeared between conditions. The findings suggest martial arts-based meditation alters negative self-referential processing linked to the DMN, with potential applications for managing pediatric pain and negative emotion.