Study on the effect of meditation on feelings of stress

Adrienne A. Taren et al.

June 2015

Anti-Stress & Burnout

Carnegie Mellon University and the University of Pittsburgh investigated the stress-reducing properties of meditation by observing the activity of the amygdala . This part of the limbic system plays a decisive role in emotional evaluations and stress processing, among other things.

Using a sample of 130 adult subjects, the researchers were able to prove that stress over a period of one month correlates with increased functional connectivity of the anterior cingulate cortex in the resting state.

A subsequent randomized study proved that a three-day intensive meditation program - compared to a three-day relaxation training - reduced the functional connectivity of the anterior cingulate cortex in the resting state.

The sample for this study consisted of 35 stressed unemployed people. The researchers were thus able to prove that meditation has a stress-reducing effect and is therefore suitable for alleviating stress-related health consequences.

The most important information on the study at a glance

Indications: Stress
Institution: Center for Neuroscience, University of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
Title: Study on the effect of meditation on feelings of stress
Brief description: A study shows that meditation reduces functional connectivity in the brain and thus alleviates stress-related effects.
Original title: Mindfulness meditation training alters stress-related amygdala resting state functional connectivity: a randomized controlled trial
Link to the study: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4666115/