Brain Scans Reveal that Mindfulness Meditation to Reduce Pain Is Not a Placebo Effect
New findings reported in Biological Psychiatry show that mindfulness meditation engages separate neural pathways from the well documented “placebo effect”.
Philadelphia, October 31, 2024 – Mindfulness meditation, which has been used for centuries for pain management in various cultures, has long been speculated to work by activating processes supporting the placebo response. However, scientists have now shown that this is not the case. A new study in Biological Psychiatry, published by Elsevier, has revealed that mindfulness meditation engages distinct brain mechanisms to reduce pain, compared to those of the placebo response.
John Krystal, MD, Editor of Biological Psychiatry, says, “Pain is a complex, multifaceted experience shaped by various factors beyond physical sensation, such as a person’s mindset and their expectations of pain. This study highlights the complexity of psychological modulation of pain. The placebo effect, the tendency for a person’s symptoms to improve in response to inactive treatment, is a well-known example of how expectations can significantly alter a person’s experience."
Dove stanno i nostri ricordi: uno studio sulla memoria episodica
I neuroni della corteccia entorinale laterale che si attivano al richiamo della memoria episodica sono colorati in rosso, in verde i nuclei degli altri neuroni
Una ricerca condotta da un team di ricerca dell’Istituto di neuroscienze del Cnr e del laboratorio di biologia Bio@sns della Scuola normale superiore, pubblicata di recente sulla rivista Cell Reports, indaga il ruolo della corteccia entorinale laterale nella memoria episodica. Comprendere questi meccanismi neurobiologici potrà fornire nuove prospettive nella lotta contro le patologie che coinvolgono il deterioramento cognitivo, come l’ Alzheimer.
Artificial intelligence: a double-edged sword for the environment?
As artificial intelligence (AI) technology progresses, the energy demands of training complex models have surged, raising widespread concerns about associated carbon emissions. This rapid growth is fueled by global demand across industries and academia, leading to exponential increases in compute power that carry significant environmental consequences. Given these challenges, in-depth research is essential to fully understand AI's carbon footprint and develop strategies for mitigating its environmental impact.
