Regulation of the Neural Circuitry of Emotion by Compassion Meditation: Effects of Meditative Expertise

Recent brain imaging studies using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) have implicated insula and anterior cingulate cortices in the empathic response to another's pain. However, virtually nothing is known about the impact of the voluntary generation of compassion on this network. To investigate these questions we assessed brain activity using fMRI while novice and expert meditation practitioners generated a loving-kindness-compassion meditation state. To probe affective reactivity, we presented emotional and neutral sounds during the meditation and comparison periods. Our main hypothesis was that the concern for others cultivated during this form of meditation enhances affective processing, in…

• FF
  Fondation Fyssen
• NI
  National Institute of Mental Health

  Awards: P50-MH069315, MH069315, NIMH P50
• NC
  National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine

  Award: U01AT002114-01A1