A translational neuroscience perspective on mindfulness meditation as a prevention strategy

Abstract

Mindfulness meditation research mainly focuses on psychological outcomes such as behavioral, cognitive, and emotional functioning. However, the neuroscience literature on mindfulness meditation has grown in recent years. This paper provides an overview of relevant neuroscience and psychological research on the effects of mindfulness meditation. We propose a translational prevention framework of mindfulness and its effects. Drawing upon the principles of prevention science, this framework integrates neuroscience and prevention research and postulates underlying brain regulatory mechanisms that explain the impact of mindfulness on psychological outcomes via self-regulation mechanisms linked to underlying brain systems. We conclude by discussing potential clinical and practice implications of this model and directions for future research.

Keywords: Mindfulness meditation; Prevention science; Self-regulation; Translational neuroscience.

Figures

Fig. 1

Integrated translational framework illustrating the neurobiological and behavioral mechanisms whereby mindfulness meditation could affect self-regulation outcomes

Fig. 2

Brain regions involved in mindfulness meditation. Schematic view of the brain regions involved in attention control (the anterior cingulate cortex and the striatum), emotion regulation (multiple prefrontal regions, limbic regions, and the striatum), and self-awareness (insula, medial prefrontal cortex and posterior cingulate cortex, and precuneus). Cited from [2]