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Nicolardi, V.

Publications and source records attributed to Nicolardi, V..

2 recordsLinked to original sources
bioRxiv2025

Differential Effects of Meditation States and Traits on the Neural Mechanisms of Pain Processing

ObjectivesThe main objective of the present study was to explore the effects of different types of meditation on the neurophysiologic mechanisms of pain processing. MethodsEEG responses to electric median nerve stimulation were recorded in short-term and long-term meditators (STM, LTM) during rest and three forms of meditation engaging attentional and affective regulation in different ways: focused attention meditation (FAM), open monitoring meditation (OMM) and loving kindness meditation (LKM). EEG responses were analysed in the time- and time-frequency domains to compute local components, and temporal and spatial synchronizations of multi-spectral pain-related oscillations (PROs) in order to characterize bottom-up processes, pro-active modulation of cortical excitability, cognitive/affective appraisal, and the connectivity of performance monitoring (fronto-medial) and attentional (fronto-parietal) networks during pain processing. ResultsSTM manifested a significant decrease in the connectedness of the fronto-medial theta-alpha network and a significant reduction of the P3b during LKM. In contrast, changes in LTM were observed during FAM and OMM. They were characterized by pre-stimulus alpha increase at somatosensory areas, and modulations of fronto-medial and fronto-parietal theta-alpha synchronizations. ConclusionsDifferent meditation states do not influence bottom-up sensory pain processing. However, they significantly alter cognitive/affective pain mechanisms in state- and trait-dependent ways. In novice meditators, a positive emotional disposition during meditation can suppress the distribution and cognitive/affective appraisal of nociceptive signals. In expert meditators, effects of meditation states on pain processing are critically guided by advanced control of internal attention leading to fine-tuned involvement and functional segregation of cognitive control and attention networks.

neuroscience↗
bioRxiv2024

Taking the perspective of an embodied avatar modulates the temporal dynamics of vicarious pain and pleasure: a combined Immersive Virtual Reality and EEG study

Observing negative and positive valence virtual stimuli can influence the onlookers subjective and brain reactivity. However, the relationship between vicarious pain and pleasure, observers perspective taking and cerebral activity remains underexplored. To address this gap, we asked 24 healthy participants to passively observe pleasant, painful, and neutral stimuli delivered to a virtual hand seen from a first-person (1PP) or third-person perspective (3PP) while undergoing time and time-frequency EEG recording. Participants reported a stronger sense of ownership over the virtual hand seen from a 1PP, rated pain and touch valence appropriately, and more intense than the neutral ones. Distinct EEG patterns emerged across early (N2, early posterior negativity, EPN), late (late positive potential, LPP) event-related potentials, and EEG power. The N2 and EPN components showed greater amplitudes for pain and pleasure than neutral stimuli, particularly in 1PP. The LPP component exhibited lower amplitudes for pleasure than pain and neutral stimuli. Further, theta-band power increased, and alpha power decreased for pain and pleasure stimuli viewed from a 1PP versus a 3PP perspective. In the ultra-late time window, we observed decreased theta, alpha, and beta-band power specifically associated with pleasure stimuli. Our study provides novel evidence that perspective-taking modulates the temporal dynamics of vicarious pain and pleasure.

neuroscience↗