fMRI-based explanations for how meditation could modulate pain processing.
Faly Golshan, Marla J S Mickleborough
Frontiers in Neuroscience 2025 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2025.1561580 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Review Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Topics | Meditation |
| Keywords | Acute noxious pain Chronic pain FMRI Focused attention Open monitoring Pain management Meditation & mindfulness |
| Citations | 4 |
| Key findings | Meditation influences brain activity in response to acute and chronic pain through distinct neurophysiological mechanisms that can be categorized by technique and practitioner experience. |
Abstract
Meditation is a widely recognized umbrella term encompassing a diverse range of techniques with shared foundational characteristics, celebrated for their potential to alleviate mental and physical challenges. While subjective reports and behavioral studies have long highlighted meditation's benefits, recent neuroscientific research has sought to provide tangible physiological evidence of its efficacy as a non-invasive intervention for managing physical pain. This review examines the neurophysiological mechanisms by which meditation influences brain activity in response to both acute and chronic pain experiences. Drawing on findings from functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) studies, general models are categorized to explain how meditation alters cortical responses in both naïve and expert practitioners when exposed to pain stimuli. First, we discuss three major components of pain processing in the brain and analyze how meditation affects each stage. Next, we identify key brain regions consistently implicated in pain modulation through meditation, elucidating their roles in pain perception and regulation. Finally, we propose a framework for differentiating meditation techniques based on their distinct effects on pain experiences. These insights have significant implications for understanding the therapeutic potential of various meditation techniques for pain management, particularly in chronic conditions.
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
- Studies on the impact of meditation on mental health: A critical review. Psychiatria Danubina April 1, 2026
- Development of a Multicomponent Mindfulness and Movement Program for Lumbosacral Radicular Pain: A Mixed Methods Protocol Research Square February 27, 2026
- Randomized controlled trial of neurofeedback mindfulness meditation as a practice for migraine management. Journal of Clinical Neuroscience December 1, 2025
- Experiences of a Neurofeedback-Based Mindfulness Meditation Intervention for Migraine: Qualitative Study. JMIR neurotechnology 2025
Cites 34
- The psychological effects of meditation: A meta-analysis. Psychological Bulletin May 14, 2012
- The meeting of meditative disciplines and western psychology: A mutually enriching dialogue. American Psychologist 2006
- Pain Attenuation through Mindfulness is Associated with Decreased Cognitive Control and Increased Sensory Processing in the Brain Cerebral Cortex December 15, 2011
- Differential effects on pain intensity and unpleasantness of two meditation practices. Emotion 2010
- Toward a unifying taxonomy and definition for meditation Frontiers in Psychology 2013
and 29 more in the library