Mind does really matter: evidence from neuroimaging studies of emotional self-regulation, psychotherapy, and placebo effect.

Abstract in brief

• Neuroimaging studies show that conscious and voluntary emotional regulation, such as rethinking or recontextualizing feelings, can change how the brain processes emotions like sadness or sexual arousal.
• Psychotherapy has a significant impact on brain activity across various mental health conditions, indicating that mental practices can physically influence brain functioning.
• Beliefs and expectations, including placebo effects, can strongly affect brain activity related to perception, movement, pain, and emotions, highlighting the importance of mental states in understanding brain behavior.]