How Mindfulness Impacts the Brain

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