Figure 5:

All neuroimaging analyses were performed during noxious heat (49°C > 35°C). Left panel: The whole-brain independent samples t-test revealed that mindfulness meditation significantly reduced activation in the bilateral posterior insula, secondary somatosensory cortices (SII), parietal operculum, dorsal ACC (dACC), supplementary motor area (SMA), and primary visual cortex (V1) during noxious heat when compared to rest and the change in pain from pre to post-manipulation in the control group. Middle panel: A paired-samples t-test employing a change in pain (demeaned post-manipulation – pre- manipulation) found that meditation produced significant reductions in the dACC, SMA, bilateral anterior/posterior insula, amygdala, hippocampus, central-parietal operculum and SII when compared to rest. Right panel: Greater mindfulness-based pain intensity reductions, from rest to meditation, was associated with stronger vmPFC deactivation (r=.73, p<.001). R, subject right, slice locations correspond to standard stereotaxic space.