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Lonelier people feel less empathic despite intact neural empathy responses after meditation training.

Marla Dressel, Naomi Nero, Paige A Freeburg, Melinda C Somers, Joseph S Venticinque, Ashley S VanMeter, Shawn A Rhoads, Abigail A Marsh

Social Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience January 21, 2026 DOI: 10.1093/scan/nsag015 (opens in new tab)

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Study at a glance

AI-extracted from the abstract
Characteristics Randomized controlled trial Preregistered Peer reviewed
Sample size 108
Population Participants who completed LKM or active control training
Interventions Loving kindness meditation active control training
Topics Meditation
Keywords Empathy Loneliness Multi-voxel pattern analysis
Key findings Both interventions reduced loneliness, but neither increased trait empathy, and loneliness was not associated with differences in neural empathic responding.

Abstract

Loneliness, which has reached an all-time high in the United States, has been linked to reduced self-reported empathy. Loving kindness meditation (LKM) is aimed at extending love and kindness to others and has been shown to increase empathy. But whether LKM can reduce loneliness, and whether this corresponds to higher levels of trait empathy, state empathy, and/or neural empathic responding, has not been assessed. In this pre-registered mixed-design randomized controlled trial, 108 participants completed LKM or active control training. Loneliness and trait empathy were assessed pre- and post-intervention. Neural empathic responding was measured in 54 participants during functional MRI by computing the multi-voxel pattern similarity between experiencing and observing both pain and fearful anticipation of pain. Both interventions reduced loneliness, but not trait empathy, which failed to support the hypothesis that LKM is effective in reducing loneliness by increasing empathy. Furthermore, we found no credible evidence that loneliness is associated with differences in neural empathic responding. However, loneliness was associated with lower self-reported empathy. Together, these results suggest that lonelier individuals simulate others' experiences but may not subjectively perceive themselves as empathetic, emphasizing the potential of interventions that address maladaptive social cognition in loneliness.

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

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