Abstract
The scientific study of compassion is burgeoning, however the putative neurophysiological markers of programs which actively train distress tolerance, such as Compassionate Mind Training (CMT), are less well known. Herein we offer an integrative, multi-method approach which investigated CMT at neural, physiological, self-report, and behavioural levels. Specifically, this study first assessed participants’ neural responses when confronted with disappointments (e.g., rejection, failure) using two fundamental self-regulatory styles, self-criticism and self-reassurance. Second, participant’s heart-rate variability (HRV) – a marker of parasympathetic nervous system response – was assessed during compassion training, pre- and post- a two-week self-directed engagement period. We identified neural networks associated with threat are reduced when practicing compassion, and heightened when being self-critical. In addition, cultivating compassion was associated with increased parasympathetic response as measured by an increase in HRV, versus the resting-state. Critically, cultivating compassion was able to shift a subset of clinically-at risk participants to one of increased parasympathetic response. Further, those who began the trial with lower resting HRV also engaged more in the intervention, possibly as they derived more benefits, both self-report and physiologically, from engagement in compassion.Citation
Kim, J.J., Parker, S.L., Doty, J.R., Cunnington, R., Gilbert, P. and Kirby, J.N., (2020). 'Neurophysiological and behavioural markers of compassion'. Scientific Reports, 10(1), pp .1-9.Publisher
Springer Science and Business Media LLCJournal
Scientific ReportsDOI
10.1038/s41598-020-63846-3Additional Links
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-020-63846-3#Abs1Type
ArticleLanguage
enEISSN
2045-2322ae974a485f413a2113503eed53cd6c53
10.1038/s41598-020-63846-3
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