A new study published in the Journal of Neuroscience suggests that mindfulness meditation can help reduce pain. The study, conducted by researchers at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center, found that participants who underwent mindfulness meditation training experienced a significant decrease in pain intensity and unpleasantness compared to a control group.
The research involved 76 healthy adults who were randomly assigned to either a mindfulness meditation group or a control group. The mindfulness meditation group received four days of training in mindfulness techniques, such as focused attention on breathing and body sensations, while the control group received four days of sham training.
Participants in the mindfulness meditation group reported a 27% decrease in pain intensity and a 44% decrease in pain unpleasantness. In contrast, the control group only experienced a 9% decrease in pain intensity and no change in pain unpleasantness.
These findings suggest that mindfulness meditation may be an effective non-pharmacological treatment for chronic pain. Lead author Fadel Zeidan, Ph.D., noted that while meditation does not eliminate pain, it can change how the brain perceives and responds to pain signals.
According to Zeidan, mindfulness meditation works by activating brain regions that are involved in the cognitive control of pain, leading to a decreased perception of pain intensity and unpleasantness. This means that individuals who practice mindfulness meditation may be better equipped to cope with chronic pain conditions.
Overall, the study provides further evidence of the benefits of mindfulness meditation for pain management. Further research is needed to explore the long-term effects of mindfulness meditation on chronic pain and to determine the optimal frequency and duration of mindfulness practice for pain relief.
Source
Photo credit www.nytimes.com