How Mindfulness Impacts the Brain

One possible way that mindfulness may reduce stress and anxiety is found in the growing body of neuroimaging research that shows increased connectivity in the brain regions involved in attention, emotional control, emotional processing, and self-awareness. In addition mindfulness is associated with down-regulation of the amygdala, the area of the brain associated with the threat response. The brain regions in which mindfulness has demonstrated an effect are summarized in the table below.

Core Brain Region & Related Function

Affected By Mindfulness

ANTERIOR CINGULATE CORTEX (ACC) Self-Regulation of attention and emotion

Enhanced ACC connectivity

PRE-FRONTAL CORTEX (PFC)

Attention and emotion

Enhanced connectivity of several PFC regions with amygdala

POSTERIOR CINGULATE CORTEX (PCC) Self-awareness

Reduced connectivity between PCC and medial PFC and ACC

INSULA

Awareness and emotional processing

Enhanced insula connectivity

AMYGDALA

Emotional processing

Down-regulation of amygdala