How mindfulness meditation can help reduce pain and stress

Brain Mechanisms Supporting Mindfulness Meditation-Induced Pain and Stress Relief

NIH-funded research University of California, San Diego · NIH-10888176

This study is looking at how mindfulness meditation can help reduce pain and stress by checking how it affects the brain, and it's for anyone interested in finding new ways to feel better without medication.

Quick facts

Grant typeFellowship grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionUniversity of California, San Diego NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (La Jolla, United States)
Project IDNIH-10888176 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

This research investigates the effects of mindfulness meditation on pain and stress relief by examining brain mechanisms involved in these processes. Participants will engage in mindfulness meditation sessions while their brain activity is monitored using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). The study aims to understand how mindfulness can alter brain activity in areas associated with pain and emotional processing, potentially leading to new non-drug treatments for chronic pain and stress-related disorders.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Ideal candidates for this research are individuals experiencing chronic pain or stress-related disorders.

Not a fit: Patients who do not experience chronic pain or stress may not benefit from this research.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this research could provide patients with effective non-opioid strategies for managing pain and stress.

How similar studies have performed: Previous studies have shown promising results in using mindfulness meditation for pain and stress relief, indicating that this approach has potential for success.

Where this research is happening

La Jolla, United States

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.
Conditions Anxiety Disorders
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.