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Brief meditation training induces smoking reduction.

Yi-Yuan Tang, Rongxiang Tang, Michael I Posner

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences August 20, 2013 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1311887110 (opens in new tab)

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Study at a glance

AI-extracted from the abstract
Characteristics Randomized controlled trial Peer reviewed
Population Adults interested in general stress reduction, including a subset of smokers
Interventions Meditation training relaxation training
Duration 2 weeks (5 hours total training)
Topics Addiction Meditation
Keywords Anterior cingulate cortex Brain state Integrative body–mind training
Key findings Among smokers, two weeks of meditation training (5 hours total) produced a 60% reduction in smoking, while the relaxation control group showed no reduction. Brain scans showed increased resting-state activity in the anterior cingulate and prefrontal cortex for the meditation group. The authors suggest that brief meditation training improves self-control capacity and reduces smoking.

Abstract

More than 5 million deaths a year are attributable to tobacco smoking, but attempts to help people either quit or reduce their smoking often fail, perhaps in part because the intention to quit activates brain networks related to craving. We recruited participants interested in general stress reduction and randomly assigned them to meditation training or a relaxation training control. Among smokers, 2 wk of meditation training (5 h in total) produced a significant reduction in smoking of 60%; no reduction was found in the relaxation control. Resting-state brain scans showed increased activity for the meditation group in the anterior cingulate and prefrontal cortex, brain areas related to self-control. These results suggest that brief meditation training improves self-control capacity and reduces smoking.

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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Addiction Meditation