Effects of meditation on neural responses to pain: A systematic review and meta-analysis of fMRI studies


Author: Cheng Fan1, Mengjiao Wu2, Hong Liu3, Xiaolin Chen4, Zhen Gao5, Xin Zhao6, Jianhao Zhou7, Zheng Jiang8

Affiliation: <sup>1</sup> The First Clinical Medical College, Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fuzhou 350122, China; Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an 710004, China; Key Laboratory of Orthopedics & Traumatology of Traditional Chinese Medicine and Rehabilitation, Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Ministry of Education, Fuzhou 350122, China.

<sup>2</sup> Key Laboratory of Orthopedics & Traumatology of Traditional Chinese Medicine and Rehabilitation, Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Ministry of Education, Fuzhou 350122, China; College of Rehabilitation Medicine, Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fuzhou 350122, China; Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chengdu Medical College, Chengdu 610500, China.

<sup>3</sup> Key Laboratory of Orthopedics & Traumatology of Traditional Chinese Medicine and Rehabilitation, Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Ministry of Education, Fuzhou 350122, China; College of Rehabilitation Medicine, Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fuzhou 350122, China. Electronic address: lh3024@outlook.com.

<sup>4</sup> Department of Rehabilitation, Dongguan Songshan Lake Tungwah Hospital, DongGuan 523000, China.

<sup>5</sup> Department of Rehabilitation, Fuzhou Second Hospital, Fuzhou 350122, China.

<sup>6</sup> Key Laboratory of Orthopedics & Traumatology of Traditional Chinese Medicine and Rehabilitation, Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Ministry of Education, Fuzhou 350122, China; College of Rehabilitation Medicine, Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fuzhou 350122, China.

<sup>7</sup> The First Clinical Medical College, Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fuzhou 350122, China; Key Laboratory of Orthopedics & Traumatology of Traditional Chinese Medicine and Rehabilitation, Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Ministry of Education, Fuzhou 350122, China.

<sup>8</sup> Key Laboratory of Orthopedics & Traumatology of Traditional Chinese Medicine and Rehabilitation, Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Ministry of Education, Fuzhou 350122, China; College of Rehabilitation Medicine, Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fuzhou 350122, China. Electronic address: 2007073@fjtcm.edu.cn.
Conference/Journal: Neurosci Biobehav Rev
Date published: 2024 May 29
Other:
  Pages: 105735   ,  Special Notes: doi: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2024.105735.   ,  Word Count: 177  
    This systematic review investigates the impact of meditation on neural responses to pain, as measured by functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). Up to March 2024, we conducted searches across four databases for human studies implementing fMRI to assess the efficacy of meditation for pain relief. Eighteen studies met the inclusion criteria. Our systematic review indicates that activation of the insula, anterior cingulate cortex, and orbitofrontal cortex is positively associated with meditation for pain relief, while activity in regions like the amygdala and medial prefrontal cortex is negatively correlated with pain relief. Meta-analyses consistently reveal the involvement of various brain regions, including the insula, putamen, amygdala, anterior cingulate cortex, precentral gyrus, postcentral gyrus, inferior parietal lobule, superior temporal gyrus, inferior frontal gyrus, and caudate nucleus, in meditation-induced alleviation of pain. These findings suggest ccthat meditation acts on specific brain regions related to pain, mood, and cognition, providing insight into the potential mechanisms underlying the pain-alleviating effects of meditation on both pain sensations and emotional experiences.



Keywords: Emotional pain; Meditation; Meta-analysis; Somatic Pain; Systematic review; fMRI.



PMID: 38821153 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2024.105735