Exploring the impact of a brief mindfulness-based intervention on autonomic functioning: A multisystem approach
Li Shen Chong, Rachel C. Bucher, Edward Merritt, Elana B. Gordis
Physiology & Behavior April 17, 2026 DOI: 10.1016/j.physbeh.2026.115352 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Randomized controlled trial Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 91 |
| Population | Young adults |
| Intervention | Brief mindfulness intervention |
| Duration | Two sessions |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Keywords | Intervention counseling Autonomic nervous system Medline Clinical psychology Physical therapy |
| Key findings | Two sessions of brief mindfulness intervention elicited greater RSA augmentation, lower SCL, and greater declines in blood pressure relative to an attention control, and promoted reciprocal RSA-SCL coordination during stress. |
Abstract
• Brief mindfulness intervention (bMBI) impacts autonomic nervous system functioning. • bMBI increased RSA and reduced SCL during mindfulness relative to the attention control condition. • bMBI reduced blood pressure after mindfulness and stress relative to controls. • The bMBI group displayed reciprocal RSA and SCL patterns (↑RSA, ↓SCL) during stress. • Controls showed non-reciprocal RSA-SCL coordination (↑RSA, ↑SCL) during stress. Previous work on brief mindfulness-based interventions (bMBI) reveals that they consistently alleviate stress, but their impact on biological stress response systems, such as the autonomic nervous system (ANS), varies. Nevertheless, most of this work has focused on only a single physiological response system or a specific biomarker, limiting insight into how multiple systems work together. The present study tested whether bMBI alters ANS markers and coordination across ANS subsystems. Participants were young adults (bMBI: n = 44, M age = 18.64 years; control: n = 47, M age = 19.00 years) who completed two sessions of either a brief mindfulness intervention or an attention control condition (audiobook listening), followed by a psychosocial stress test at the second visit. Respiratory sinus arrhythmia (RSA), skin conductance level (SCL), and blood pressure were assessed during mindfulness engagement, control condition, and stress. Results indicated that bMBI elicited greater RSA augmentation and lower SCL and greater declines in blood pressure relative to the control condition. In response to the TSST, the bMBI group exhibited reciprocal coordination between RSA and SCL, reflected in an inverse association between the two systems. In contrast, the control group showed non-reciprocal coordination, reflected in a positive association between RSA and SCL. The bMBI group also displayed lower blood pressure immediately after the psychosocial stressor compared to controls. These results suggest that examining coordination across systems might explain variation across previous publications. They also highlight the promise of two sessions of bMBI in promoting optimal adaptive ANS coordination across multiple measures, potentially revealing quick, inexpensive ways to understand and decrease reactions to stressors.
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 |
Citations in the library
Cites 16
- Short-term autonomic and cardiovascular effects of mindfulness body scan meditation Annals of Behavioral Medicine November 15, 2006
- Mindful attention reduces neural and self-reported cue-induced craving in smokers Social Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience November 22, 2011
- Effect of Brief Mindfulness Meditation Interventions on Heart Rate Variability in Adults: A Systematic Review. Applied Psychophysiology and Biofeedback July 26, 2025
- Mindfulness-Based Interventions for University Students: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomised Controlled Trials. Applied Psychology: Health and Well-Being November 19, 2019
- Brief Mindfulness-Based Interventions for Acute and Chronic Pain: A Systematic Review The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine March 1, 2019
and 11 more in the library