Mindfulness-based treatment of addiction: current state of the field and envisioning the next wave of research

Hypothesized neural mechanisms by which mindfulness-based interventions ameliorate addictive behavior. Garland et al. [20] model of mindfulness-centered regulation posits that mindfulness-based interventions ameliorate the craving, negative affective states, and automatic habit behaviors underpinning addiction by enhancing functional connectivity (1) within a “top-down” brain network subserving metacognitive attentional (dlPFC, dACC, parietal cortex) and (2) between this metacognitive attentional control network and “bottom-up” brain structures implicated in automaticity, memory consolidation, interoception, and hedonic regulation. Enhanced functional connectivity within and between these neural circuits may allow individuals to self-regulate addictive impulses and restructure reward processes to support healthy, goal-oriented behavior. dlPFC dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, dACC dorsal anterior cingulate cortex, PCC posterior cingulate cortex, DS dorsal striatum, VS ventral striatum, Thal thalamus, HIPP hippocampus, Amy amygdala, OFC orbitofrontal cortex, MFC medial prefrontal corte