Impact of mindfulness on the neural responses to emotional pictures in experienced and beginner meditators

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing). May combine two claims.

The MBSR program led to reduced activation in regions associated with autobiographical memory and increased activity in the right insula.

“the MBSR program led to reduced activation in regions associated with autobiographical memory and increased activity in the right insula (Farb et al., 2010).”

• cites Farb et al., 2010 sourceSupported

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

Compassion meditation increased right insular activation for experienced meditators relative to beginners while listening to negative emotional sounds compared to positive sounds.

“They found increased right insular activation for experienced meditators, relative to beginners, during a state of compassion meditation while listening to negative emotional sounds (compared to emotionally positive sounds).”

• cites Lutz et al. (2008) sourceSupported

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

Mindfulness-based clinical interventions have beneficial outcomes on the treatment of affect-related psychopathology, including major depression and anxiety disorders.

“it has been demonstrated that mindfulness-based clinical interventions have beneficial outcomes on the treatment of affect-related psychopathology, including major depression (Bondolfi et al., 2010;Teasdale et al., 2000) and anxiety disorders (Goldin and Gross, 2010;Kabat-Zinn et al., 1992;Kim et al., 2009).”

• cites Bondolfi et al., 2010 sourcePartly supported

  The Results and Discussion report that mindfulness-based cognitive therapy significantly delayed relapse in patients in remission from recurrent major depression, but did not significantly reduce the 14-month relapse rate. This supports a benefit for depression relapse prevention, not a general claim about treating active major depression. The citing sentence attributes the anxiety-disorder claim to other sources, not Bondolfi et al. (LLM, conf=0.86)

  Experimental — accuracy not yet measured
• cites Teasdale et al., 2000 sourceNot checked — no full text of the source
• cites Goldin and Gross, 2010 sourceSupported

Classified as probably not a substantial claim.

An experiential focus condition (monitoring the self in terms of present-moment circumstances) was associated with deactivations of the ventral and dorsal MPFC compared with a narrative self-focus task.

“Farb et al. (2007) found that an experiential focus condition (monitoring the self in terms of present-moment circumstances) was associated with deactivations of the ventral and dorsal MPFC compared with a narrative self-focus task (monitoring the self in terms of self-descriptive traits).”

• cites Farb et al. (2007) sourcePartly supported

  The Narrative self-focus results (Figure 3) report reduced ventral and dorsal mPFC activity during experiential versus narrative focus, but only in the mindfulness-trained group. The citing sentence omits that qualification; the paper says the reductions were not significant in novices. (LLM, conf=0.88)

  Experimental — accuracy not yet measured

May combine two claims.

The Group × Condition, Group × Valence × Condition, and Valence × Condition interactions on emotional intensity ratings were not significant.

“the Group × Condition (F(1, 18) = 0.72, p = .382),Group × Valence × Condition (F(1, 18) = 0.45, p = .747),or Valence × Condition (F(1, 18) = 1.94, p = .17,η 2 = .170)interactions were not significant.”

May combine two claims.

The effect of mindfulness did not apply specifically to any valence category or to either group; no significant interactions were found between condition, valence, or group.

“Surprisingly, the effect of mindfulness did not apply specifically to any valence category or to either group (i.e., no significant interactions were found between condition, valence, or group).”

May combine two claims. The quote only partly states this claim.

For beginners, but not experienced meditators, mindfulness induced increased activity in the right medial frontal gyrus, left medial frontal gyrus, right PCC, right inferior parietal lobule, and left superior occipital gyrus/IPL across valence categories.

“For beginners, but not experienced meditators, mindfulness induced increased activity in the right medial frontal gyrus (BA 8, k = 486, t =4.86, Z =4.63, x=29, y=20, z =40, P(FWE)= .011,d =0.89), the left medial frontal gyrus (BA 8, k = 218, t =3.98, Z =3.85, x=-26, y=22, z=43, P(FWE) = .007,d = 0.85), the right PCC (BA 31, k =84, t =4.34, Z =4.17, x=11, y=-50, z =22, P(FWE) =.006, d =0.80)”

May combine two claims.

For beginners, but not experienced meditators, mindfulness induced deactivations in the amygdala, right posterior insula, putamen, left anterior insula, caudate nucleus, left hippocampus, and right ACC during positive emotional processing.

“Within-group analyses revealed that for beginners, but not for experienced meditators, mindfulness induced deactivations in the amygdala, right posterior insula (BA 13), putamen, left anterior insula (BA 13), caudate nucleus, left hippocampus, and right ACC (BA 24).”

The quote only partly states this claim.

No mindfulness-induced deactivations were observed for experienced meditators during positive emotional processing.

“No mindfulness-induced deactivations were observed for experienced meditators.”

May combine two claims.

For all activation loci reported, Cohen's D effect sizes ranged from 0.54 to 1.24, constituting medium to large effects.

“Finally, for all activation loci reported, Cohen's D effect sizes (d) ranged from 0.54 to 1.24, which constitute medium to large effects according to established benchmarks (small: 0.20, medium: 0.50, large: 0.80; Cohen, 1992).”

• cites Cohen, 1992 sourceNot checked — no full text of the source

May combine two claims.

Within beginners, mindfulness induced deactivations in the left and right amygdala during negative emotional processing, but not for experienced meditators.

“revealing mindfulness-induced deactivations (at a more liberal threshold of p b 0.005 uncorrected) in the left amygdala (k = 22, t = 3.82, Z = 3.70, x = -27, y = -1, z = -18, P (FWE) = .010,d = 0.70) and right amygdala (k = 13, t = 3.53, Z = 3.43, x = 27, y = -1, z = -16, P(FWE) = .012,d = 0.65) for beginners, but not for experienced meditators.”

May combine two claims.

Regression analyses with number of hours of meditation practice found no significant activations for either group or between groups.

“Regression analyses with the number of hours of meditation practice on the contrasts reported above were also computed, but no significant activations for either group, nor between groups were found”

May combine two claims.

For experienced meditators, mindfulness induced a deactivation of the right MPFC across valence categories, though this was a sub-threshold trend, in experienced but not beginner meditators.

“For experienced meditators, mindfulness induced a deactivation of the right MPFC (though this was a sub-threshold trend at a more liberal threshold of p b .005)(BA 10, k = 36, t = 3.14, Z = 3.07, x = 13, y = 49, z = 9, P (uncorr.)= .001,d = 0.58) in experienced, but not in beginner meditators.”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing). May combine two claims.

Neutral pictures viewed in a state of mindfulness were rated as less intense than neutral pictures viewed in a normal state, but this may have been due to little variability observed for neutral pictures.

“For neutral pictures, a significant effect of mindfulness was also found (F(1, 18) = 5.40, p = .031,η 2 = .22;M = 0.62, SD = 0.49 for the Baseline condition; M = 0.44, SD = 0.37, for the Mindful condition), but this result may have been due to the little variability observed for neutral pictures”

Classified as probably not a substantial claim. May combine two claims.

Mindfulness is associated with increased MPFC/LPFC activation and reduced amygdalar activation during affect labeling.

“mindfulness was shown to be associated with increased MPFC/LPFC activation and reduced amygdalar activation during affect labeling”

• cites Creswell et al., 2007 sourceNot checked — no full text of the source

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

Mindfulness meditation practiced following a sad mood induction decreases dysphoric mood states.

“Mindfulness meditation practiced following a sad mood induction was also shown to decrease dysphoric mood states (Broderick, 2005).”

• cites Broderick, 2005 sourceNot checked — no full text of the source

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

Volumes deviating in translation by more than 3 mm were considered outliers and were excluded from the analyses.

“Volumes deviating in translation by more than 3 mm, which only occurred at the very beginning or very end of a given session, were considered outliers and were excluded from the analyses.”

May combine two claims.

There were no significant between-group differences with respect to age or the ratio of male/female participants.

“There were no significant between-group differences with respect to age (p N 0.05) or to the ratio of male/female participants (p N 0.05).”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

No univariate or multivariate outliers were detected.

“No univariate or multivariate outliers were detected.”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing). May combine two claims.

Participants high in trait mindfulness had negative correlations between areas of the PFC (MPFC and LPFC) and the right amygdala, but not those low in trait mindfulness.

“Creswell et al. (2007) found that participants high in trait mindfulness also had negative correlations between areas of the PFC (MPFC and LPFC) and the right amygdala, but not those low in trait mindfulness.”

• cites Creswell et al. (2007) sourceNot checked — no full text of the source

Classified as probably not a substantial claim. May combine two claims.

All variables were normally distributed, with skewness and kurtosis values ranging from -1.5 to 1.5.

“All variables were normally distributed, with skewness and kurtosis values ranging from -1.5 to 1.5.”

May combine two claims.

Long-term practice of mindfulness leads to emotional stability by promoting acceptance of emotional states and enhanced present-moment awareness, rather than by eliciting control over low-level affective cerebral systems from higher-order cortical brain regions.

“These findings suggest that the long-term practice of mindfulness leads to emotional stability by promoting acceptance of emotional states and enhanced present-moment awareness, rather than by eliciting control over low-level affective cerebral systems from higher-order cortical brain regions.”

May combine two claims.

The MPFC, through its inhibitory downstream connections to the amygdala, is implicated in the extinction of conditioned fear and the dampening of negative affect.

“These findings are consistent with evidence that the MPFC, through its inhibitory downstream connections to the amygdala, is implicated in the extinction of conditioned fear as well as the dampening of negative affect (Amaral et al., 1992;Davidson, 1998).”

• cites Amaral et al., 1992Not matched

  Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

• cites Davidson, 1998 sourceNot checked — no full text of the source

Classified as probably not a substantial claim.

The assumptions for conducting a mixed-measure ANOVA, such as homogeneity of variance between groups and linearity, were met.

“The assumptions for conducting a mixed-measure ANOVA, such as homogeneity of variance between groups and linearity, were met.”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

There is a negative correlation between number of hours of meditation training and right amygdala activation during concentration meditation in experienced meditators while processing negative emotional sounds.

“Brefczynski-Lewis et al. (2007) found a negative correlation between the number of hours of meditation training and right amygdala activation during concentration meditation in a group of experienced meditators while processing negative emotional sounds.”

• cites Brefczynski-Lewis et al. (2007) sourceNot checked — no full text of the source

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing). May combine two claims.

Missing emotional intensity ratings were distributed at random across groups and were replaced with the group's corresponding mean value.

“Due to response box failure on certain trials, some stimuli were missing emotional intensity ratings (with no more than 25% of participant ratings missing for any given stimulus), which were distributed at random across groups.These missing values were replaced with the group's corresponding mean value to avoid losing statistical power.”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing). May combine two claims.

Only one beginner had two days of meditation practice prior to testing but reported compensating; all other participants had 100% compliance.

“Only one individual had two days of meditation practice prior to testing (due to scheduling restraints), but reported compensating accordingly by practicing additional time each day.In all other participants, 100% compliance was observed.”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

Meditative states are associated with increased activation in various prefrontal cortical areas.

“there are some reports that meditative states are associated with increased activation in various prefrontal cortical areas.”

• cites Newberg et al., 2001 sourceNot checked — no full text of the source

May combine two claims.

Most emotional self-regulation strategies aim at altering emotional states, whereas mindfulness is based on accepting emotional states as they are.

“most emotional self-regulation strategies aim at altering emotional states, whereas mindfulness is based on accepting emotional states as they are (Kabat-Zinn, 1994).”

• cites Kabat-Zinn, 1994Not matched

  Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing). May combine two claims.

Two participants in each group only had data for two runs due to testing constraints or excessive movement; the number of degrees of freedom was adjusted accordingly in the group analyses.

“Two participants in each group only had data for two runs (one from each condition) due to testing constraints or excessive movement; however, the number of degrees of freedom was adjusted accordingly in the group analyses.”

Classified as probably not a substantial claim.

Decreased activations in executive control areas reflect that meditation training is associated with a reduction in cognitive elaboration of aversive stimuli.

“These decreased activations found in executive control areas have been proposed to reflect that meditation training is associated with a reduction in cognitive elaboration of aversive stimuli (Grant et al., 2011).”

• cites Grant et al., 2011 sourceNot checked — no full text of the source

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

All participants reported having successfully understood the mindfulness exercises.

“All participants reported having successfully understood the mindfulness exercises.”

May combine two claims.

With extensive meditation training, mindfulness-induced emotional intensity attenuations may be achieved by accepting and fully experiencing emotional responses in the present moment without interference from internal thought and self-referent processes, as opposed to directly controlling low-order affective brain systems from higher-order cortical regions.

“the results of this study suggest that with extensive meditation training, the mindfulness-induced emotional intensity attenuations may be achieved by accepting and fully experiencing emotional responses in the present moment without interference from internal thought and self-referent processes, as opposed to directly controlling low-order affective brain systems from higher-order cortical region”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing). May combine two claims.

The attenuating effect of mindfulness also applied to neutral pictures, possibly due to little variability observed for this category and very small mean differences attaining significance.

“the fact that the attenuating effect of mindfulness also applied to neutral pictures may have been due to the little variability observed for this category of pictures, and thus, very small mean differences may have attained significance.”

May combine two claims.

The greater mindfulness-induced deactivation of the MPFC and PCC in experienced meditators relative to beginners may reflect an adaptive process through which present-moment awareness is enhanced and information in the environment is processed with reduced distractibility and interference from self-referent thought or ruminative processes.

“the greater mindfulness-induced deactivation of the MPFC and PCC measured herein experienced meditators relative to beginnersmay reflect an adaptive process through which present-moment awareness is enhanced in individuals with long-term meditation experience, and information in the environment is processed with reduced distractibility and interference from self-referent thought or ruminative pro”

May combine two claims.

The attenuating effects of mindfulness on subjective emotional intensity are consistent with the view that mindfulness-based strategies promote emotional stability and constitute an efficient means of emotional self-regulation.

“The attenuating effects of mindfulness on subjective emotional intensity observed in the present study are consistent with the view that mindfulness-based strategies promote emotional stability and constitute an efficient means of emotional self-regulation (Arch and Craske, 2006;Broderick, 2005).”

• cites Arch and Craske, 2006 sourceNot checked — no full text of the source
• cites Broderick, 2005 sourceNot checked — no full text of the source

May combine two claims.

Individuals with generalized anxiety disorder tend to respond to negative mood challenges with greater emotional intensity relative to controls and tend to become overwhelmed by their emotions and understand them poorly.

“individuals with generalized anxiety disorder tend to respond to negative mood challenges with greater emotional intensity relative to their control counterparts; they also tend to become overwhelmed by their emotions and understand them poorly (Mennin et al., 2005).”

• cites Mennin et al., 2005 sourceNot checked — no full text of the source

May combine two claims.

The fact that mindfulness did not influence amygdala responses for experienced meditators during emotional processing supports the interpretation that participants with extensive mindfulness training adopted an accepting perspective towards their emotional responses and allowed themselves to fully experience them.

“the fact that mindfulness did not influence amygdala responses for experienced meditators during emotional processing also supports the interpretation that participants with extensive mindfulness training adopted an accepting perspective towards their emotional responses and allowed themselves to fully experience them.”

Classified as probably not a substantial claim.

An interaction between Group and Condition may have failed to attain statistical significance due to reduced power.

“an interaction between Group and Condition may have failed to attain statistical significance due to reduced power.”

May combine two claims.

While experienced meditators may have had some degree of amygdala reactivity to emotional stimuli in the mindful state, the MPFC (BA 10) deactivations during the Mindful condition indicate that mindfulness altered what happened after their initial response, which led to decreased subjective emotional intensity.

“while experienced meditators may have had some degree of amygdala reactivity to emotional stimuli in the mindful state, the MPFC (BA 10) deactivations during the Mindful condition indicates that mindfulness altered what happened after their initial response (cognitive elaboration, judgments, etc.), which led to decreased subjective emotional intensity.”

May combine two claims.

Mindfulness may diminish the need to seek out satisfaction from external positive stimuli, thereby attenuating the emotional intensity perceived from positive pictures.

“As a result, mindfulness may diminish the need to seek out satisfaction from external positive stimuli, thereby attenuating the emotional intensity perceived from this category of pictures.”

Classified as probably not a substantial claim.

Ratings from two participants in the beginners' group were lost due to technical issues.

“Since the ratings from two participants in the beginners' group were lost due to technical issues”

May combine two claims.

Mindfulness may decrease the propensity to avoid processing emotions by attenuating the emotional intensity perceived from given events, and constitute an adaptive alternative coping mechanism for populations with anxiety-related traits or psychopathology.

“Thus, mindfulness may decrease the propensity to avoid processing emotions by attenuating the emotional intensity perceived from given events, and constitute an adaptive alternative coping mechanism for populations with anxiety-related traits or psychopathology.”

May combine two claims.

The mindfulness-induced activations in MPFC/LPFC seemed to have been driven by the group of beginners, as they were situated in the same loci as those found within the group of beginners alone and were not present in the group of experienced meditators alone.

“These activations seemed to have been driven by the group of beginners, as they were situated in the same loci as those found within the group of beginners alone, and were not present in the group of experienced meditators alone.”

May combine two claims.

Although both experienced and beginner meditators showed effects of mindfulness on subjective emotional intensity, differences in brain response patterns suggest that the two groups were processing the stimuli in distinct ways during the Mindful condition.

“although both experienced and beginner meditators showed effects of mindfulness on subjective emotional intensity, differences in brain response patterns suggest that the two groups were in fact processing the stimuli in distinct ways during the Mindful condition.”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

Due to technical constraints, the study was unable to acquire other measures of emotional reactivity, such as galvanic skin response.

“due to technical constraints, we were unable to acquire other measures of emotional reactivity, such as galvanic skin response.”

May combine two claims.

As opposed to beginners who exhibited mindfulness-induced patterns of brain activity related to voluntary regulation of emotion, a lack of control over emotional states, i.e. acceptance, is associated with the emotional stability achieved by long-term practice of mindfulness meditation.

“as opposed to beginners who exhibited mindfulness-induced patterns of brain activity related to the voluntary regulation of emotion, the findings of this study indicate that a 'lack of control' over emotional states, i.e. acceptance, is associated with the emotional stability achieved by the long-term practice of mindfulness meditation.”

May combine two claims.

For individuals with long-term practice of meditation, mindfulness induces a pattern of brain activity associated with acceptance of emotional stimuli and reduced interference from internal states, possibly reflecting enhanced present-moment awareness.

“Our results also demonstrate that for individuals with long-term practice of meditation, mindfulness induces a pattern of brain activity associated with acceptance of emotional stimuli and reduced interference from internal states, possibly reflecting enhanced present-moment awareness.”

May combine two claims.

Extensive mindfulness practice promotes emotional stability and modulates activity in a number of brain regions implicated in neural responses to emotional stimuli.

“These results indicate that extensive mindfulness practice promotes emotional stability and modulates the activity in a number of brain regions implicated in the neural responses to emotional stimuli.”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S4 (based).

There may have been differences between the two groups of participants other than mindfulness training, such as lifestyle or temperamental predispositions.

“there may have been differences between the two groups of participants other than mindfulness training (e.g., lifestyle, temperamental predispositions).”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S2 (checkable). May combine two claims.

The findings contribute to understanding of the relationship between mindfulness meditation, brain function, and emotional processing, and have implications for clinical psychological disorders related to affect and anxiety.

“The findings obtained in this study contribute to the understanding of the relationship between mindfulness meditation, brain function, and emotional processing, and have implications for clinical psychological disorders related to affect and anxiety.”