Mindfulness and Neurofeedback

Using evidence from clinical trials of smoking cessation, this presentation will first map out how mindfulness targets key components of operant conditioning pathways. It will then detail neuroscientific findings from novice and expert meditators using traditional and real-time fMRI to link the subjective experience of effortless awareness that may be a key aspect of mindfulness, to regional brain activity in the default mode network. It will conclude with a discussion of how targeted neurofeedback may provide a “mental mirror” for augmenting mindfulness training.