Absence of structural brain changes from mindfulness-based stress reduction: Two combined randomized controlled trials
Tammi R. A. Kral; Kaley Davis; Cole Korponay; Matthew J. Hirshberg; Rachel Hoel; Lawrence Y. Tello; Robin I. Goldman; Melissa A. Rosenkranz · 2022 · Science Advances
WASTE classifies this as Negative / Null Result Report · AI classification, approximate
The study found no significant effect — useful as a negative control or null benchmark for your own design.
Abstract
Studies purporting to show changes in brain structure following the popular, 8-week mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) course are widely referenced despite major methodological limitations. Here, we present findings from a large, combined dataset of two, three-arm randomized controlled trials with active and waitlist (WL) control groups. Meditation-naïve participants ( n = 218) completed structural magnetic resonance imaging scans during two visits: baseline and postintervention period. After baseline, participants were randomly assigned to WL ( n = 70), an 8-week MBSR program ( n = 75)
Abstract by Tammi R. A. Kral; Kaley Davis; Cole Korponay; Matthew J. Hirshberg; Rachel Hoel; Lawrence Y. Tello; Robin I. Goldman; Melissa A. Rosenkranz, Science Advances (2022) — licensed CC BY 4.0.
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Metadata source: OpenAlex · DOI 10.1126/sciadv.abk3316