Virtual Reality
June 19, 2026
Ylenia D'elia, Catherine I. Andreu, Aida Palacios et al.
Compassion-based interventions have been shown to improve numerous mental health outcomes. However, they are time- and effort-intensive and are associated with high dropout rates. Virtual Reality (VR) could be a useful tool to enhance compassion practice by immersing users in a VR environment, thus facilitating the construction and sustainment of mental images necessary for the practice. The...
Neuroscience of Consciousness
April 22, 2026
Valerie Bonnelle, Giulia Parola, Catherine I. Andreu et al.
Abstract Self-transcendent experiences (STEs) offer profound and beneficial shifts in perspective, yet remain largely inaccessible outside elite contemplative or pharmacological contexts. Although neural measures have advanced our understanding of these states, their cost and limited ecological validity restrict broader application. This study evaluates heart rate variability (HRV) amplitude, a...
Virtual Reality
December 21, 2025
Joana Vidal, Catherine I. Andreu, Maja Wrzesien et al.
Recently, there has been growing scientific interest in studying states of selflessness, where there is no sense of self as the immediate subject of experience. Preliminary findings suggest that this state is associated with increased positive emotions and a sense of connection with the world and all living beings. Given its potential benefits, various practices have been developed to induce or...
International Journal of Clinical and Health Psychology
December 17, 2025
Aida Palacios, Sara Martínez‐Gregorio, Catherine I. Andreu et al.
Although the effectiveness of compassion-based interventions (CBIs) has been widely demonstrated to improve mental health and prosocial behaviors, not all individuals benefit equally from these interventions. Therefore, enhancing specific capacities relevant to compassion practice (i.e., mental imagery and somatosensory perception) could optimize the benefits of CBIs. This randomized controlled...
Mindfulness
September 1, 2025
Lorena Desdentado, Marta Miragall, Ausiàs Cebolla et al.
Abstract Objectives This study aimed to (1) investigate the feasibility of three online-delivered mindfulness practices that emphasize different types of attentional focus: visceral body scan (VBS), somatosensory body scan (SBS), and external (non-body) meditation (ECM), and (2) gain insight into the potential effects of these interventions on interoceptive and other psychological outcomes....
Mindfulness
June 3, 2025
Catherine I. Andreu, Joana Vidal, Ylenia D’elia et al.
Compassion is a valuable, trainable skill which can bring significant benefits to oneself and others. One method for developing compassion towards others is Tonglen, a Tibetan Buddhist meditation which involves taking in suffering from others and sending them well-being. The aim of this study was to investigate the psychophysiological outcomes of Tonglen meditation in healthcare workers, a...
medRxiv
March 5, 2023
Gustavo Díez, Ignacio Martin-Subero, Rosaria María Zangri et al.
2 citations
preprint
Abstract Introduction The main objective of the study will be to evaluate the effects of two widely used standardized mindfulness-based programs [Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) and Compassion Cultivation Training (CCT)], on epigenetic, neurobiological, psychological, and physiological variables. Methods The programs will be offered in an intensive retreat format in a general...
PLoS One
2023
Gustavo Díez, Ignacio Martin-Subero, Rosaria M Zangri et al.
The main objective of the study will be to evaluate the effects of two widely used standardized mindfulness-based programs [Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) and Compassion Cultivation Training (CCT)], on epigenetic, neurobiological, psychological, and physiological variables. The programs will be offered in an intensive retreat format in a general population sample of healthy volunteer...
Scientific Reports
September 13, 2019
Catherine I. Andreu, Ismael Palacios, Cristóbal Moënne-Loccoz et al.
Response inhibition - the ability to suppress inappropriate thoughts and actions - is a fundamental aspect of cognitive control. Recent research suggests that mental training by meditation may improve cognitive control. Yet, it is still unclear if and how, at the neural level, long-term meditation practice may affect (emotional) response inhibition. The present study aimed to address this...
PLoS One
2018
Catherine I. Andreu, Diego Cosmelli, Heleen A. Slagter et al.
Research suggests that mindfulness-practices may aid smoking cessation. Yet, the neural mechanisms underlying the effects of mindfulness-practices on smoking are unclear. Response inhibition is a main deficit in addiction, is associated with relapse, and could therefore be a candidate target for mindfulness-based practices. The current study hence investigated the effects of a brief...
Mindfulness
December 1, 2017
Catherine I. Andreu, Cristóbal Moënne-Loccoz, Vladimir Lopez et al.
Performance monitoring—the ability to monitor ongoing performance to detect and correct errors—is a core component of cognitive control. Impairments in performance monitoring have been associated with several psychiatric disorders, including attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and substance use disorder. Recent research indicates that the practice of meditation, as a mental training...
Giulia Parola, Catherine I. Andreu, Valerie Bonnelle et al.
preprint
Abstract Self-transcendent experiences, characterized by reduced self-focus and a sense of connection to something greater than oneself, have been linked to positive mental-health outcomes. However, existing induction methods, such as meditation, require sustained training, while pharmacological approaches (e.g., psychedelics) raise legal and ethical issues. Virtual reality (VR) has emerged as...