Lord Brian, Allen John J B, Young Shinzen, Sanguinetti Joseph L
Center for Consciousness Studies, Science Enhanced Mindful Awareness Lab, University of Arizona, Tuscon, Arizona; Department of Psychology, University of Arizona, Tuscon, Arizona.
Center for Consciousness Studies, Science Enhanced Mindful Awareness Lab, University of Arizona, Tuscon, Arizona; Department of Psychology, University of Arizona, Tuscon, Arizona.
Biol Psychiatry Cogn Neurosci Neuroimaging. 2025 Apr;10(4):384-392. doi: 10.1016/j.bpsc.2024.12.005. Epub 2024 Dec 19.
Mindfulness has gained widespread recognition for its benefits for mental health, cognitive performance, and well-being. However, the multifaceted nature of mindfulness, which encompasses elements such as attentional focus, emotional regulation, and present-moment awareness, complicates its definition and measurement. A key component that may underlie its broad benefits is equanimity-the ability to maintain an open and nonreactive attitude toward all sensory experiences. Empirical research suggests that mindfulness works through a combination of top-down attentional control and bottom-up sensory and emotional processes and that equanimity's role in regulating those bottom-up processes drives the psychological and physiological benefits, making it a promising target for both theoretical and practical exploration. Given these findings, the development of interventions that specifically augment equanimity could improve the impact of mindfulness practices. Research into noninvasive brain stimulation (NIBS) suggests that it is a potential tool for altering neural circuits involved in mindfulness. However, most NIBS studies reported to date have focused on improving cognitive control systems and have left equanimity relatively unexplored. Preliminary findings from focused ultrasound interventions targeting the posterior cingulate cortex suggest that NIBS can directly facilitate equanimity by inhibiting self-referential processing in the default mode network to promote a more present-centered state of awareness. Future research should prioritize the integration of NIBS with well-defined mindfulness training protocols, focusing on equanimity as a core target. This approach could provide a novel framework for advancing both contemplative neuroscience and clinical applications, offering new insights into the mechanisms of mindfulness and refining NIBS methodologies to support individualized, precision wellness interventions.
正念因其对心理健康、认知表现和幸福感的益处而获得了广泛认可。然而，正念的多面性，包括注意力焦点、情绪调节和当下意识等要素，使其定义和测量变得复杂。其广泛益处背后的一个关键组成部分可能是平静——即对所有感官体验保持开放和无反应态度的能力。实证研究表明，正念通过自上而下的注意力控制与自下而上的感官和情绪过程相结合起作用，并且平静在调节那些自下而上的过程中所起的作用推动了心理和生理益处，使其成为理论和实践探索的一个有前景的目标。鉴于这些发现，专门增强平静的干预措施的开发可能会提高正念练习的效果。对非侵入性脑刺激（NIBS）的研究表明，它是改变与正念相关的神经回路的一种潜在工具。然而，迄今为止报道的大多数NIBS研究都集中在改善认知控制系统上，而对平静的研究相对较少。针对后扣带回皮层的聚焦超声干预的初步结果表明，NIBS可以通过抑制默认模式网络中的自我参照加工来直接促进平静，从而促进更以当下为中心的意识状态。未来的研究应优先将NIBS与明确的正念训练方案相结合，将平静作为核心目标。这种方法可以为推进冥想神经科学和临床应用提供一个新的框架，为正念机制提供新的见解，并完善NIBS方法以支持个性化、精准的健康干预。
