Mindfulness-based randomized controlled trials led to brain structural changes: an anatomical likelihood meta-analysis.
Savannah K H Siew, Junhong Yu
Scientific Reports October 27, 2023 Retracted DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-45765-1 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Meta-analysis Randomized Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 581 |
| Population | Participants in 11 randomized controlled trials of mindfulness-based interventions |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Keywords | Brain Humans Pain Gray matter |
| Post-publication review | 3 comments on PubPeer (opens in new tab) · last active July 2025 |
| Key findings | Across 11 randomized controlled trials (581 participants), mindfulness-based interventions showed one significant cluster of increased structural brain volume in the right insula and precentral gyrus compared with controls. The authors report that this cluster was associated with attention and somesthesis (pain), and argue that mindfulness can affect neural plasticity in regions tied to pain modulation and sustained attention. |
Abstract
Mindfulness has become increasingly popular and the practice presents in many different forms. Research has been growing extensively with benefits shown across various outcomes. However, there is a lack of consensus over the efficacy of randomized controlled mindfulness interventions, both traditional and mind-body formats. This study aimed to investigate the structural brain changes in mindfulness-based interventions through a meta-analysis. Scopus, PubMed, Web of Science, and PsycINFO were searched up to April 2023. 11 studies (n = 581) assessing whole-brain voxel-based grey matter or cortical thickness changes after a mindfulness RCT were included. Anatomical likelihood estimation was used to carry out voxel-based meta-analysis with leave-one-out sensitivity analysis and behavioural analysis as follow-ups. One significant cluster (p < 0.001, Z = 4.76, cluster size = 632 mm3) emerged in the right insula and precentral gyrus region (MNI = 48, 10, 4) for structural volume increases in intervention group compared to controls. Behavioural analysis revealed that the cluster was associated with mental processes of attention and somesthesis (pain). Mindfulness interventions have the ability to affect neural plasticity in areas associated with better pain modulation and increased sustained attention. This further cements the long-term benefits and neuropsychological basis of mindfulness-based interventions.
Comparable studies
Other systematic reviews and meta-analyses on meditation, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Meditation Programs for Psychological Stress and Well-being Diverse adult clinical populations | 2014 | Meta-analysis | n = 3,515 |
| Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction for Stress Management in Healthy People: A Review and Meta-Analysis Healthy subjects | 2009 | Systematic review and meta-analysis | |
| The psychological effects of meditation: A meta-analysis. Nonclinical groups of adult meditators | 2012 | Meta-analysis | n = 163 |
| Efficacy of Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy in Prevention of Depressive Relapse Adults with recurrent depression in full or partial remission | 2016 | Meta-analysis of individual patient data from randomized controlled trials | n = 1,258 |
| Mindfulness‐Based Stress Reduction and Mindfulness‐Based Cognitive Therapy – a systematic review of randomized controlled trials | 2011 | Systematic review |
Citations in the library
Cited by 10
- Neurobiological Changes Induced by Mindfulness and Meditation: A Systematic Review. Biomedicines November 15, 2024
- Effect of technology-supported mindfulness-based interventions for maternal depression: a systematic review and meta-analysis with implementation perspectives for resource-limited settings. BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth February 13, 2025
- ENIGMA-Meditation: Worldwide Consortium for Neuroscientific Investigations of Meditation Practices. Biological Psychiatry: Cognitive Neuroscience and Neuroimaging April 1, 2025
- Mindful young brains and minds: a systematic review of the neural correlates of mindfulness-based interventions in youth. Brain Imaging and Behavior April 1, 2025
- Evaluating reliable and clinically significant changes in health outcomes of a mindfulness-based cognitive defusion training program among older adults with mild cognitive impairment: a randomized controlled trial. Age and ageing March 28, 2025
and 5 more in the library
Cites 32
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- The Meditative Mind: A Comprehensive Meta-Analysis of MRI Studies BioMed Research International 2015
- Absence of structural brain changes from mindfulness-based stress reduction: Two combined randomized controlled trials Science Advances May 20, 2022
- Short‐term Sahaja Yoga meditation training modulates brain structure and spontaneous activity in the executive control network Brain and Behavior November 28, 2018
and 27 more in the library