Psychobiological mechanisms underlying the mood benefits of meditation: A narrative review

• Published in: Comprehensive Psychoneuroendocrinology (Online) 2021-05, Vol.6, p.100037-100037, Article 100037
• Main Authors: Pascoe, Michaela C., de Manincor, Michael, Tseberja, Jana, Hallgren, Mats, Baldwin, Peter A., Parker, Alexandra G.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Autonomic nervous system; Brain; Medicin och hälsovetenskap; Meditation; Review; Stress
• ISSN: 2666-4976; 2666-4976
• DOI: 10.1016/j.cpnec.2021.100037

Psychological stressors can lead to distress and result in autonomic arousal and activation of a stress response. Ongoing or persistent stress can disrupt the stress response feedback mechanisms and result in elevated cortisol and pro-inflammatory cytokines which can cause damage to brain regions involved in the regulation of mood and emotion. We propose that the magnitude of the stress response experienced in response to psychological stressors depends on a number of modifiable psychological processes including an individual’s level of self-compassion, dispositional mindfulness, tendency to ruminate and attentional bias. We further propose that the stress response elected by psychological stressors can be meditated by influencing these modifiable psychological processes, and that meditation practices can decrease stress and improve mood by decreasing stress reactivity on a psychological, physiological and neurobiological level. We explore this in a narrative review. •Meditation decreases blood pressure, heart rate, cortisol and cytokine levels.•Meditation increases self-compassion, dispositional mindfulness and meta-cognition.•Meditation improves attention and memory.•Meditation results in brain changes in regions related to emotion regulation.