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Recent studies indicate that mindfulness meditation training interventions reduce stress and improve stress-related health outcomes, but the neural pathways for these effects are unknown. The present research evaluates whether mindfulness meditation training alters resting state functional connectivity (rsFC) of the amygdala, a region known to coordinate stress processing and physiological stress responses. We show in an initial discovery study that higher perceived stress over the past month is associated with greater bilateral amygdala-subgenual anterior cingulate cortex (sgACC) rsFC in a sample of community adults (n = 130). A follow-up, single-blind randomized controlled trial shows that a 3-day intensive mindfulness meditation training intervention (relative to a well-matched 3-day relaxation training intervention without a mindfulness component) reduced right amygdala-sgACC rsFC in a sample of stressed unemployed community adults (n = 35). Although stress may increase amygdala-sgACC rsFC, brief training in mindfulness meditation could reverse these effects. This work provides an initial indication that mindfulness meditation training promotes functional neuroplastic changes, suggesting an amygdala-sgACC pathway for stress reduction effects.

While the adverse impact of stress on health states has been established, effective stress reduction programs are largely underused in clinical settings. In an area with little published information, this study identifies themes that describe the process of applying mindfulness methods to cope with psychosocial stressors in participants of the Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) program. The study design is a qualitative investigation with a phenomenological approach using participant feedback from 11 MBSR 8-week programs. Participants were 74 adults from the greater Pittsburgh area. Content analysis was used to inductively generate thematic categories. Four themes were identified that described the process and results of learning mindfulness to adapt to psychosocial stressors. We categorized participants’ feedback into interrelated themes of awareness (subdivided into self-discovery—“step back from my thoughts in order to view them more clearly”, and being in the present), coping—“pause, take a breath”, serenity—“increased feeling of calm, centeredness”, and change in perspective—“different understanding interpersonally and intrapersonally.” In addition, a brief section describes specific health benefits identified by participants. Participants found the mindfulness-based approach effective for stress reduction. The learning process allowed them to routinely apply mindfulness strategies that provided multiple benefits. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2016 APA, all rights reserved)

While the adverse impact of stress on health states has been established, effective stress reduction programs are largely underused in clinical settings. In an area with little published information, this study identifies themes that describe the process of applying mindfulness methods to cope with psychosocial stressors in participants of the Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) program. The study design is a qualitative investigation with a phenomenological approach using participant feedback from 11 MBSR 8-week programs. Participants were 74 adults from the greater Pittsburgh area. Content analysis was used to inductively generate thematic categories. Four themes were identified that described the process and results of learning mindfulness to adapt to psychosocial stressors. We categorized participants’ feedback into interrelated themes of awareness (subdivided into self-discovery—“step back from my thoughts in order to view them more clearly”, and being in the present), coping—“pause, take a breath”, serenity—“increased feeling of calm, centeredness”, and change in perspective—“different understanding interpersonally and intrapersonally.” In addition, a brief section describes specific health benefits identified by participants. Participants found the mindfulness-based approach effective for stress reduction. The learning process allowed them to routinely apply mindfulness strategies that provided multiple benefits.