Does mindfulness therapy affect resistance to inflammation? A Comparative Study.
Julia Almikeeva
Open Mind 2026 preprint DOI: 10.17605/osf.io/gyfut (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Experimental design |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 200 |
| Population | Participants |
| Intervention | Mindfulness-based therapy |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Keywords | Affect linguistics Dorsolateral prefrontal cortex Cognition Mental health Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy Clinical psychology Psychotherapist Resistance ecology Psychoneuroimmunology |
| Key findings | Mindfulness-based therapy reduces systemic inflammation markers by linking dlPFC activity with immune signals. |
Abstract
This research explores the intersection of cognitive psychology and immunology, specifically investigating how mindfulness-based therapy (MBT) influences systemic inflammation markers. While clinical evidence shows that psychological stress and trauma (including childhood experiences) can trigger inflammatory responses without external pathogens, this study examines MBT as a strategic intervention. Utilizing an experimental design with a sample of 200 participants, the study measures C-reactive protein (CRP) levels to analyze the correlation between mindfulness practice and physiological resilience. By linking neurological functions, such as the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (dlPFC) activity, with immune signals, this work aims to provide evidence-based insights into reducing cognitive load and enhancing physical health through mental regulation.
Comparable studies
Other experimental studies on meditation, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| The benefits of being present: Mindfulness and its role in psychological well-being. Cancer patients (clinical intervention study) | 2003 | Mixed methods: scale development, correlational, quasi-experimental, laboratory, experience-sampling, and clinical intervention study | |
| Loving-kindness meditation increases social connectedness. | 2008 | Controlled laboratory experiment | |
| Mindfulness and mind-wandering: Finding convergence through opposing constructs. | 2012 | Two studies: correlational study and experimental study | |
| Mental Training Enhances Attentional Stability: Neural and Behavioral Evidence | 2009 | Experimental study | |
| Mindfulness meditation and substance use in an incarcerated population. Incarcerated population | 2006 | Quasi-experimental with treatment-as-usual control condition |