1. Study procedures across experimental sessions (ES) and groups.
Study procedures across experimental sessions (ES) and groups. ES 1: After completing the FMI, psychophysical training (PT) was conducted. ES 2: After the anatomical scan, two “heat” (49°C) and two “neutral” (35°C) PCASL series were conducted. ES 3–6: Placebo group: noxious “heat” stimuli were first delivered to untreated skin (Series A). After administering/removing the placebo cream, we delivered another “heat” series to the treated skin region, but covertly and progressively reduced the temperature in Series B (i.e., ES-3 = 48°C; ES-4 and 5 = 47°C; ES-6 = 46.5°C). Mindfulness meditation group: subjects were taught mindfulness meditation skills. Sham mindfulness meditation group: subjects were instructed to “take a deep breath as we sit here in meditation.” Control group: subjects listened to an audiobook. We assessed perceived intervention effectiveness after each intervention session. ES 7: We first administered two “heat” and two “neutral” PCASL series. Before acquiring the anatomical MRI, we applied/removed the placebo cream to the placebo group, the mindfulness and sham mindfulness meditation groups were instructed to “begin meditating”, and the control group was instructed to keep their eyes closed. We then administered two “heat” and two “neutral” series. The FMI was administered after MRI Session B.
Fadel Zeidan et al. J. Neurosci. 2015;35:
©2015 by Society for Neuroscience