Pre-existing brain function predicts subsequent practice of mindfulness and compassion meditation.

ABSTRACT: While a variety of meditation techniques are increasingly employed as health interventions, the fact that meditation requires a significant commitment of time and effort may limit its potential widespread utility. In the current study, we ask whether baseline subjective reports or brain activity in response to a "Pain for Self and Others" paradigm predicts subsequent engagement in mindfulness and compassion meditation. The study also investigated whether compassion training would impact neural responses when compared to an active health education control group. Prior to training, activation of the left and right anterior insula, an area thought to be important for empathy, in response to the Other pain task was positively related to engagement with compassion meditation as measured by prac

SUBMITTER: Mascaro JS 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8751906 | biostudies-literature | 2013 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature