Mindfulness practices and transcranial direct current stimulation: A systematic review and meta-analysis of self-reported mindfulness.
Steven Wickens, Gummersall Timothy, Brown Trevor
Brain and Cognition May 27, 2025 DOI: 10.1016/j.bandc.2025.106307 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Systematic review with meta-analysis Randomized Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Population | Participants in eight randomized trials of combined tDCS and mindfulness |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Keywords | Meta-analysis Multi-modal therapy Transcranial stimulation Tdcs Studies Synergistic approach Brain stimulation Mindfulness practices Self-reported mindfulness |
| Citations | 4 |
| Key findings | Combining mindfulness practices with active tDCS yields a small but significant increase in self-reported mindfulness compared to mindfulness with sham tDCS. |
Abstract
There is a growing body of evidence investigating the effectiveness of combining psychological therapy and techniques with transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) for facilitating meaningful change across a wide range of clinical and non-clinical domains. The objective of the current review was to examine mindfulness practices in combination with tDCS on self-reported mindfulness, given the well-established benefits of mindfulness on psychological health as well as the critical role of mindfulness processes as mediators of change in psychosocial intervention. Two databases were searched for sham-controlled studies of combined tDCS and mindfulness that included standardised mindfulness measures. Eight randomised trialsmet inclusion criteria. Results of the random-effects meta-analysis showed that mindfulness-based practices combined with active tDCS intervention revealed a small but significant increase in overall mindfulness as compared to sham tDCS and mindfulness (SMD = 0.24; 95% CI, 0.01, 0.48, p = 0.044). There was heterogeneity in the mindfulness practices, populations and number of stimulations, although there was general consistency in online tDCS location and intensity parameters (i.e., most commonly 2 mA anodal stimulation to the prefrontal cortex). The present findings provide evidence from sham RCTs that tDCS combined with mindfulness practice can augment self-reported mindfulness, lending support to a synergistic multimodal combination.
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 2
- Effects of transcranial direct current stimulation and mindful walking on directional brain connectivity: An isolated effective coherence analysis Clinical Neurophysiology Practice 2026
- Intervention effects of subconscious cultivation in mindfulness-based physical education teaching and training on pain perception and psychological resilience in advanced cancer patients Psycho-Oncologie December 17, 2025
Cites 17
- Conceptual and methodological issues in research on mindfulness and meditation. American Psychologist October 1, 2015
- The Empirical Status of Mindfulness-Based Interventions: A Systematic Review of 44 Meta-Analyses of Randomized Controlled Trials Perspectives on Psychological Science February 16, 2021
- Resting-state fMRI functional connectivity and mindfulness in clinical and non-clinical contexts: A review and synthesis. Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews February 22, 2022
- Resting-State Network Functional Connectivity Patterns Associated with the Mindful Attention Awareness Scale Brain Connectivity November 13, 2017
- The Mindful Brain: A Systematic Review of the Neural Correlates of Trait Mindfulness. Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience November 1, 2024
and 12 more in the library