Closed-Loop Systems and Real-Time Neurofeedback in Mindfulness Meditation Research.
Joseph C. C. Chen, David A Ziegler
Biological Psychiatry: Cognitive Neuroscience and Neuroimaging April 1, 2025 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpsc.2024.10.012 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Review Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Interventions | closed-loop neurofeedback real-time neurofeedback mindfulness meditation |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Keywords | Closed-loop EEG Neurofeedback FMRI |
| Citations | 6 |
| Key findings | Closed-loop neurofeedback signals from fMRI and EEG have been used to provide subjective correlates of mindfulness states, but future research needs appropriate control conditions to quantify their effects. |
Abstract
Mindfulness meditation has numerous purported benefits for psychological well-being; however, problems such as adherence to mindfulness tasks, quality of mindfulness sessions, or dosage of mindfulness interventions may hinder individuals from accessing the purported benefits of mindfulness. Methodologies including closed-loop systems and real-time neurofeedback may provide tools to help bolster success in mindfulness task performance, titrate the exposure to mindfulness interventions, or improve engagement with mindfulness sessions. In this review, we explore the use of closed-loop systems and real-time neurofeedback to influence, augment, or promote mindfulness interventions. Various closed-loop neurofeedback signals from functional magnetic resonance imaging and electroencephalography have been used to provide subjective correlates of mindfulness states including functional magnetic resonance imaging region-of-interest-based signals (e.g., posterior cingulate cortex), functional magnetic resonance imaging network-based signals (e.g., default mode network, central executive network, salience network), and electroencephalography spectral-based signals (e.g., alpha, theta, and gamma bands). Past research has focused on how successful interventions have aligned with the subjective mindfulness meditation experience. Future research may pivot toward using appropriate control conditions (e.g., mindfulness only or sham neurofeedback) to quantify the effects of closed-loop systems and neurofeedback-guided mindfulness meditation in improving cognition and well-being.
Comparable studies
Other narrative reviews on meditation, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mindfulness training as a clinical intervention: A conceptual and empirical review. Clinical populations | 2003 | Review | |
| Mindfulness: Theoretical Foundations and Evidence for its Salutary Effects | 2007 | Review | |
| Mindfulness Interventions | 2016 | Review | |
| Mind the Hype: A Critical Evaluation and Prescriptive Agenda for Research on Mindfulness and Meditation | 2017 | Review | |
| Mindfulness and acceptance: expanding the cognitive-behavioral tradition | 2005 | Review |
Citations in the library
Cited by 4
- Decoding the Self: Single-Trial Prediction of Self-Boundary Meditation States From Magnetoencephalography Recordings. Human Brain Mapping 2026
- Global trends and emerging themes in psychological well‐being and mindfulness research: A science‐mapping study aligned with Sustainable Development Goal 3 (good health and well‐being) Applied Psychology: Health and Well-Being December 1, 2025
- Meditation and neurofeedback: A systematic scoping review, synthesis, and future directions Imaging Neuroscience 2026
- The Effects of an Online Neurofeedback‐Assisted Mindfulness‐Based Intervention (NF‐MBI) on Mental Health of Nursing Students in China: A Latent Growth Curve Modelling Analysis International Journal of Nursing Practice November 2, 2025
Cites 30
- The benefits of being present: Mindfulness and its role in psychological well-being. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology 2003
- Meditation experience is associated with differences in default mode network activity and connectivity Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences November 23, 2011
- A systematic review of the neurophysiology of mindfulness on EEG oscillations Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews 2015
- Effects of Meditation Experience on Functional Connectivity of Distributed Brain Networks Frontiers in Human Neuroscience 2012
- Physical Activity, Mindfulness Meditation, or Heart Rate Variability Biofeedback for Stress Reduction: A Randomized Controlled Trial Applied Psychophysiology and Biofeedback June 25, 2015
and 25 more in the library