Meditation alters brain activity in response to both acute and chronic pain, as shown by fMRI studies. The review categorizes general models of how meditation changes cortical responses in naïve and expert practitioners. It discusses three major components of pain processing and how meditation affects each stage, identifies key brain regions consistently involved in pain modulation through meditation, and proposes a framework for differentiating meditation techniques based on their distinct effects on pain experiences. These insights have implications for using various meditation techniques in pain management, especially for chronic conditions.
A randomized controlled trial compared eight weeks of daily neurofeedback mindfulness meditation (NM) to an audiobook listening task in 101 adults with migraine. Both groups showed improvements in headache disability, severity, and anxiety, but between-group differences were small and inconclusive. Only headache management self-efficacy improved significantly more in the NM group than in the control group. Within the NM group, greater self-efficacy correlated with lower migraine disability, severity, and anxiety. Biological sex, belief in meditation, and migraine subtypes did not influence outcomes. The authors argue that NM may enhance self-agency, potentially aiding migraine recovery and prevention, but larger trials are needed.
Participants in an 8-week neurofeedback-based mindfulness meditation program using Muse wearable headbands reported improved migraine management, including reduced pain intensity, migraine frequency, and medication use, as well as enhanced well-being, emotional regulation, and quality of life. Nine of ten participants felt better able to manage migraine symptoms, and all described benefits beyond pain relief. The study is the first to evaluate experiences with an at-home neurofeedback-based mindfulness meditation intervention for migraine, supporting its consideration as an accessible behavioral treatment.