An objective neural measure of emotional introspection is stable across time and unchanged by body scan meditation training versus self-enquiry meditation training
Tim Neville Palmer, Noémie Goeuriot, Leonie Koban, Elsa Fouragnan, Jacqueline Scholl
PsyArXiv June 18, 2026 preprint DOI: 10.31234/osf.io/g5whd_v1 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Cross-over counterbalanced experiment |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 25 |
| Population | Adult participants performing an emotion introspection task |
| Interventions | Body scan meditation Self-enquiry meditation |
| Duration | 2-week meditation blocks, two sessions |
| Measures | Picture Induced Negative Emotion brain signature, trial-wise self-report ratings |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Key findings | Brain-based negative affect correlated strongly with trial-wise self-report ratings (r=0.58) and showed good test-retest reliability (r=0.64) across sessions. The measure was not differentially affected by high body-focus 'body scan' versus low body-focus 'self-enquiry' meditation. The authors propose this as a novel brain-based approach to assessing emotion introspection and conclude that emotion introspection is not easily changed through targeted training. |
Abstract
Emotion introspection has been proposed as a key mechanism through which mental health or well-being interventions (such as meditation or psychotherapy) act. However, so far, evidence has almost exclusively come from questionnaire measures. Here, we propose a brain-based measure of emotion introspection. We recruited 25 participants to perform an emotion introspection task after completing a 2-week block of meditation either high or low in body-focus in a cross-over counterbalanced design. Participants viewed and rated emotion pictures that varied from neutral to those evoking negative affect. We obtained trial-wise brain-based measures of negative affect by applying the previously established Picture Induced Negative Emotion brain signature. As a measure of emotion introspection ability, we correlated this brain-based negative affect measure with the trial-wise self-report ratings. We found strong (r=0.58) correlations between brain-based and rated affect with good test-retest reliability (r=0.64) consistent across both sessions regardless of whether it was the 1st or 2nd intervention block. However, this measure was not differentially affected by the type of meditation intervention (i.e. high body-focus ‘body scan’ versus low body-focus ‘self-enquiry’). In a very exploratory analysis, we found some evidence that the brain-based measure of emotion introspection correlated with self-reported introspection ability. In conclusion, we propose a novel approach to robustly assess emotion introspection, going beyond the typical assessments based on questionnaires, while also finding that emotion introspection is not easily changed through targeted training.
Comparable studies
Other randomized controlled trials on meditation, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alterations in Brain and Immune Function Produced by Mindfulness Meditation Healthy employees in a work environment | 2003 | Randomized controlled trial | n = 41 |
| Prevention of relapse/recurrence in major depression by mindfulness-based cognitive therapy. Recovered recurrently depressed patients | 2000 | Randomized controlled trial | n = 145 |
| Open hearts build lives: Positive emotions, induced through loving-kindness meditation, build consequential personal resources. Working adults | 2008 | Randomized controlled trial | n = 139 |
| Short-term meditation training improves attention and self-regulation Undergraduate Chinese students | 2007 | Randomized controlled trial | n = 40 |
| Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy for Depression: Replication and Exploration of Differential Relapse Prevention Effects. Recovered recurrently depressed patients | 2004 | Randomized controlled trial | n = 73 |