Mindfulness
August 15, 2025
Alexander T. Duda, Adam R. Clarke, Robert J. Barry
5 citations
Paced breathing increased global brainwave amplitudes across all frequency bands and raised skin conductance, a measure of physiological arousal. Mindfulness meditation, by contrast, decreased global alpha brainwave amplitude while leaving other brainwave bands and skin conductance largely unchanged. The two practices thus produce distinct patterns of neural activity and arousal, suggesting they work through different underlying mechanisms to improve health.
Mindfulness
May 20, 2025
Eviatar Shulman
5 citations
Brahma-vihāra meditation in early Buddhism functions both as ethical cultivation and as a form of meditative concentration (samādhi), allowing the mind to reach a state of totality through love, compassion, empathic joy, and equanimity. These radically ethical states can perfect ethical practice and, at their best, be liberating. The early Buddhist path is flexible, not a single fixed route; practitioners can use Brahma-vihāra meditation in various ways according to their inclinations, sometimes as part of the path to liberation and sometimes not. This interpretation shows that samādhi can be ethical and ethics can be liberating.
Mindfulness
January 1, 2025
Marc-Henri Deroche, Willem Kuyken, Teruhisa Uwatoko et al.
5 citations
Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) can help higher education address student distractibility and superficial engagement caused by information overload, guiding the journey from information to knowledge and from knowledge to wisdom. Drawing on Buddhist studies, philosophy of education, anthropology, clinical psychology, and psychiatry, the article argues that mindfulness training should move beyond isolated interventions to become the very thread of learning. It reviews evidence on student mental health, listens to students' existential concerns, and uses T. S. Eliot's questions about information, knowledge, wisdom, and Life to frame an epistemic and developmental model. Ultimately, mindfulness is conceived as forming attention and fostering the joy of learning to achieve both academic excellence and human flourishing.
Mindfulness
July 11, 2024
Oren Hanner
5 citations
A philosophical analysis argues that mindfulness meditation directly contributes to a meaningful life, not merely as a mediating factor. Drawing on Susan Wolf's account of meaningfulness, which requires both subjective attraction and objective value, the article proposes that mindfulness meditation is non-subjectively valuable because it is necessary for exploring objective meaning and engaging with objectively valuable projects. This addresses a worry in Wolf's theory about how to secure objective standards for meaningful activities. The argument suggests that mindfulness, as understood in Buddhism, provides a foundation for meaning that is independent of individual subjective preferences.
Mindfulness
July 1, 2023
Snehal Lopes, Lu Shi, Xi Pan et al.
5 citations
Among 1,160 middle-aged and older adults from the Health and Retirement Study, meditating at least twice a week was not associated with changes in recall, global cognitive function, or quantitative reasoning over 16 years. However, among participants without depressive symptoms at the start, frequent meditation was linked to improvements in total recall and global cognitive function over time. The findings suggest that meditation may protect cognitive function only in those without baseline depressive symptoms.
Mindfulness
September 27, 2022
Elena López, Rafael Jódar Anchía, Lucía Halty et al.
5 citations
A new questionnaire, the Meditative State Scale (MSS), was developed and tested across two studies. Study 1 involved 241 participants and used factor analyses to reveal three underlying dimensions: transcendence, difficulties, and mental quietening. The scale showed consistent structure across beginners and experienced meditators. Study 2 recorded brain activity (EEG) from 12 meditating participants and found that higher MSS scores correlated with increased gamma-wave activity in parietal and occipital brain regions. The MSS aims to provide a reliable way to measure meditative states alongside neurophysiological data, supporting research and clinical applications of meditation.
Mindfulness
May 8, 2021
M. G. Ramesh Babu, Rajagopal Kadavigere, K Prakashini et al.
5 citations
Practitioners of Rajyoga meditation show greater overall gray matter volume and increased volume in several brain regions, including the right superior frontal gyrus, left inferior orbitofrontal cortex, left inferior parietal gyrus, left posterior cerebellum, left middle temporal gyrus, and bilateral precuneus and cuneus, compared to non-meditators. Long-term meditators also score higher on positive thinking. More hours of meditation experience are associated with greater gray matter volume in the left superior and inferior parietal gyri but less volume in the left posterior cerebellum. In meditators, positive thought scores correlate with volume in the right superior temporal gyrus. The findings suggest that Rajyoga meditation may enhance gray matter in specific brain areas and promote positive thinking.
Mindfulness
September 2, 2025
Kevin Berryman, Yanli Lin, Sara W. Lazar et al.
4 citations
Personal virtues such as conscience, harmlessness, and equanimity may help scientists adhere to ethical principles like accountability and objectivity, but this connection is underexplored. Cultivating mindful ethical virtues through meditation could strengthen these personal traits, bridging the gap between external ethical frameworks and internal motivations for scientific conduct. A framework mapping this conceptual alignment is outlined, and Mindfulness-Based Ethical Development Interventions (MBED) are proposed as a non-sectarian approach to training ethical behaviors in the scientific community. The paper calls for meta-scientific initiatives that prioritize developing undeveloped ethical virtues among scientists.
Mindfulness
February 1, 2025
Gregory Humble, Harry Geddes, Oliver Baell et al.
4 citations
Experienced mindfulness meditators show altered brain reactivity to magnetic stimulation of the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex compared to non-meditators. In a sample of 15 meditators and 19 matched controls, transcranial magnetic stimulation combined with electroencephalography revealed that meditators had larger P60/N100 ratios in response to both left and right prefrontal stimulation, suggesting differences in inhibitory activity. The spatial distribution of neural activity around 300 milliseconds after stimulation also differed between groups, potentially reflecting altered connectivity between cortical and subcortical regions. These findings indicate that long-term mindfulness practice is associated with measurable neurophysiological changes in brain regions supporting attention and cognitive control.
Mindfulness
August 1, 2024
Stefan Schmidt, Prisca R. Bauer, Fynn-Mathis Trautwein
4 citations
Integrating first-person reports with standard cognitive experiments can bridge the gap between subjective experience and neuroscientific accounts. Using the Libet task on voluntary action, where a readiness potential precedes a participant's self-timed movement, the authors propose a neurophenomenological approach that combines three methods: adapting the Libet paradigm, employing micro-phenomenological interviews, and collaborating with experienced meditators. This framework aims to develop a more coherent account of volitional action, challenging the notion that decisions are predetermined by brain processes alone. The approach suggests meditation enhances self-regulation and self-determination, leading to more deliberate decisions and ethical behavior.
Mindfulness
July 5, 2025
Jojo Yan Yan Kwok, Charis Ann Lai, Wilfred Wing Fung Sin et al.
3 citations
People with Parkinson's disease who took part in a community-based mindfulness rehabilitation program reported that the practice reshaped their illness experience, fostered a sense of community, and had lasting positive impacts. The 61 Chinese participants described mindfulness as transformative, offering psychosocial and spiritual benefits beyond physical symptom relief. Group dynamics, mindful interactions, and culturally relevant affirmations motivated engagement, while challenges in experiential learning highlighted the need for tailored support. The findings suggest that integrating mindfulness into gerontological care can empower self-care through a whole-person approach, emphasizing personalized techniques and supportive environments for routine practice.
Mindfulness
April 23, 2025
Alessio Matiz, Stefania Pascut, Franco Fabbro et al.
3 citations
An 8-week internet-based mindfulness training improved Italian school teachers' anxiety, interoceptive awareness, and professional efficacy compared to a control group. Anxiety reduction was medium-sized, interoceptive awareness improvements were medium-to-large, and professional efficacy gains were small-to-medium. The effects depended on teachers' baseline temperament and character: reduced anxiety occurred only for those with higher reward dependence or lower-to-middle self-directedness; improved interoceptive attention regulation occurred for those with middle-to-higher persistence; and improved efficacy for student engagement occurred only for those with lower self-transcendence. The study highlights the need to consider personality dimensions when designing mindfulness interventions for teachers.
Mindfulness
January 1, 2025
Juan P Zuniga-Hertz, Sierra Simpson, Ramamurthy Chitetti et al.
3 citations
During a week-long meditation retreat, twins showed changes in gene expression, metabolites, and cytokines in blood plasma that varied with the timing of assessment. Twin pairs began the retreat with similar molecular and brain-activity profiles, diverged at the midpoint, and converged again by the end. Even when in separate rooms, twin pairs exhibited significant correlations in brain-wave (spectral power) patterns, and heart rate dynamics aligned more closely in twin pairs than in unmatched pairs. These findings suggest that meditation may influence biological markers and that genetic background contributes to these responses.
Mindfulness
May 1, 2024
Ivan Nyklı́ček, Brian D. Ostafin, Myrthe G. B. M. Boekhorst
3 citations
Mindfulness meditation is often claimed to reduce egoic functioning, but empirical evidence is mixed. Three studies examined these associations: a cross-sectional survey of 796 people, an experiment with 84 students who practiced mindfulness meditation, and an 8-week Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) program with 165 participants. In the cross-sectional study, most mindfulness facets were positively or not significantly associated with egoic functioning facets. The experiment found that mindfulness meditation lowered self-enhancement of positive traits. In the MBSR intervention, some egoic aspects decreased (e.g., demanding control) while others increased (e.g., refusal to comply), and these changes correlated with shifts in self-reported mindfulness and well-being. Aspects of egoic functioning relate differently to mindfulness and respond differently to brief versus longer interventions.
Mindfulness
December 2, 2025
Samantha Galluzzi, Claudio Singh Solorzano, Moira Marizzoni et al.
2 citations
A systematic review of 22 controlled clinical trials found that mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) such as mindfulness-based stress reduction and mindfulness-based cognitive therapy positively affect physiological markers of stress in older adults. The interventions influenced five stress-related systems: brain circuits and signaling, the sympathetic-adrenomedullary axis, the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis, the immune system, and gene expression and epigenetic mediators. Effects on brain circuits were observed in both clinical and community populations. The authors suggest these findings support the influence of MBIs on pathophysiological pathways related to chronic stress at a system level, though they note limitations including outcome heterogeneity, small sample sizes, and risk of bias.
Mindfulness
February 19, 2025
Diego Castaneda, Javier M. Bianchi, Javier Villalba et al.
2 citations
The 24-item Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire (FFMQ-SF) shows robust psychometric properties in a Colombian sample of 582 adults. Confirmatory factor analysis confirmed the five-factor structure, which was invariant across sex and meditation practice. Internal consistency ranged from 0.68 (Non-reactivity) to 0.87 (Acting with awareness). Correlations with emotional symptoms, mindfulness, and transdiagnostic variables were in expected directions. Twenty of 24 items had good fit indices; two items showed differential item functioning by sex. The authors suggest cautious interpretation of the Observe facet scores.
Mindfulness
February 1, 2025
Yana Ryakhovskaya, Nicholas T. van Dam, Luke D. Smillie
2 citations
People higher in openness and agreeableness are more likely to have tried meditation, while those higher in openness, agreeableness, and curiosity hold more positive expectations about it. Neuroticism predicts greater perceived barriers to meditation. Personality traits do not strongly predict whether someone chooses to join a study advertised as being about meditation versus one described more generally. These findings help explain which personality characteristics draw individuals to meditation and may guide the design of tailored meditation programs.
Mindfulness
January 1, 2025
Vera U. Ludwig, Lana Prieur, Scott M Rennie et al.
2 citations
A two-minute shared-gazing exercise called Just-Like-Me (JLM), in which partners contemplate shared humanity while looking at each other, increased feelings of closeness by about one standard deviation both online and in person. The effect was larger than solitary meditation and, when done in person, larger than mutual gazing without contemplation. JLM also boosted prosocial behavior in a dictator game and induced synchrony in smiling and heart rates. Synchronized smiling partly explained the relational benefits. The findings suggest that brief dyadic meditations can foster social connection and may help address loneliness.
Mindfulness
November 1, 2024
Maja Stańko-kaczmarek, Paweł Kleka, Wojciech Zięba et al.
2 citations
A strong positive correlation exists between mindfulness and Stoic attitudes, with coefficients of 0.65 and 0.63 in two measurements taken two weeks apart. A weak but statistically significant relationship was found between scores on a newly developed 100-item questionnaire (the 100-I-K) and understanding of Stoicism ideology (r = 0.19 and 0.21). Stoic attitude also correlated weakly and negatively with subjective declarations of adopting Stoic attitudes (r = -0.19 and -0.18). The results suggest similarities between Eastern mindfulness and Western Stoic traditions, and the relationship remains stable over time. The 100-I-K questionnaire shows potential for assessing overall Stoic attitude but requires further development.
Mindfulness
May 14, 2024
Ivan Nyklíček, G.J.M. van Boxtel, Loek J. van der Donk et al.
2 citations
Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) training reduced general negative affect and increased heart rate variability from before to after the intervention. However, out of six physiological measures taken during a stressful recall task, only a decrease in gamma brainwave power at a frontal electrode site was significant. The subjective improvements in distress were not related to the physiological changes. The findings suggest that MBSR's benefits on general stress may not be clearly reflected in cardiac or cortical responses during recall of a recent stressful episode.
Mindfulness
January 10, 2023
Noriki Yamaya, Shigeyuki Ikeda, Yuichi Hoshino et al.
2 citations
A single 10-minute session of focused attention meditation (FAM) temporarily improves response inhibition, as measured by Stroop task performance, but the effect appears 60 minutes after meditation rather than immediately. In a study with 39 healthy participants, those who practiced FAM performed significantly better on the Stroop task 60 minutes later compared to those who did a sham meditation. Greater subjective effort during meditation was associated with better performance at that time point. The findings suggest that FAM may work by preventing cognitive fatigue, with the effect strengthening as effort increases.
Mindfulness
November 19, 2025
Sebastian Ehmann, Ryan T. Pohlig, Alejandro Chaoul et al.
1 citation
A 9-month online program teaching traditional Tibetan Mind-Body meditation practices based on Bon Dzogchen philosophy led to gradual improvements in compassion for self and others, mindfulness, flourishing, and non-dual awareness among 30 predominantly experienced meditators. Improvements were independent of how often participants meditated, suggesting the program's structure itself drove benefits. The findings provide preliminary evidence that such practices may foster advanced meditative states tied to self-transcendence. Limitations include the small, self-selected sample, lack of a control group, and reliance on quantitative measures, which may miss the richness of advanced meditative experiences.
Mindfulness
October 13, 2025
Xingjian Ruan, Jannis T. Kraiss, Kim J. M. Tönis et al.
1 citation
A pilot study of a nature-based contemplation intervention combining mindful awareness with contemplative practice in natural settings found short-term improvements in spiritual well-being that were not maintained at follow-up. Emotional well-being showed sustained gains across all time points, while nature connectedness and social well-being showed delayed effects emerging only at one month. Participants reported moderate to high satisfaction, but qualitative analysis revealed implementation challenges, particularly with the contemplative component. The authors conclude the intervention is acceptable with promising short-term effects but requires refinement to improve long-term sustainability.
Mindfulness
June 4, 2025
Cailen J. Calkin, Nirbhay N. Singh, Oleg N. Medvedev
1 citation
Fear of death is often seen as pathological, but this study used network analysis with 486 community participants to examine its links to psychological distress, mindfulness, compassion, life-limiting illness, spirituality, meaning in life, and self-esteem. The directed network showed that fear of another's death centrally influenced other death-anxiety facets, life-limiting illness, mindfulness, and meaning in life, while other death-anxiety facets had no significant influence on wellbeing. Self-esteem did not buffer death anxiety as previously proposed. Psychedelic use and meditation correlated with lower death anxiety, though these findings require replication. The results suggest death anxiety could facilitate existential growth, supporting Buddhist teachings on mortality awareness.
Mindfulness
May 20, 2025
Eva K. Peters, Samantha Sim, Jochen Reb et al.
1 citation
A training program called Mindfulness-Based Strategic Awareness Training (MBSAT), delivered over eight sessions, improved well-being in healthy working adults in Switzerland. Compared to a waitlist control group, participants who took MBSAT reported lower stress, worry, and alexithymia (difficulty identifying emotions), and better sleep quality, non-attachment, psychological need satisfaction, flourishing, and work engagement. The benefits were linked to increased interoception (awareness of internal body sensations), suggesting this may be a key mechanism behind mindfulness-based interventions. The study involved 43 participants, most randomly assigned to either the training or waitlist.