Key result
A systematic review of 56 studies found no consistent associations between brain structures or brain functioning and well-being, with scarce replication across studies.
Why the study?
Behavioral and genetic studies indicate a potential role for brain structures and functioning in well-being, but the associations had not been systematically synthesized.
Systematic Review (n=56)
A systematic review of 56 studies found no consistent associations between specific brain structures or functions and well-being, highlighting the need for well-powered brain-wide association studies.
No replicable neuroimaging markers of well-being identified; leaves open the need for standardized, well-powered brain-wide studies.
Findings from behavioral and genetic studies indicate a potential role for the involvement of brain structures and brain functioning in well-being. We performed a systematic review on the association between brain structures or brain functioning and well-being, including 56 studies. The 11 electroencephalography (EEG) studies suggest a larger alpha asymmetry (more left than right brain activation) to be related to higher well-being. The 18 Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) studies, 26 resting-state functional MRI studies and two functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) studies identified a wide range of brain regions involved in well-being, but replication across studies was scarce, both in direction and strength of the associations. The inconsistency could result from small sample sizes of most studies and a possible wide-spread network of brain regions with small effects involved in well-being. Future directions include well-powered brain-wide association studies and innovative methods to more reliably measure brain activity in daily life.
No takes yet. Share an insight, caveat, or question.
Vries et al. (2023) conducted a systematic review in Well-being (n=56). Brain structure and functioning was evaluated on Association between brain structures or brain functioning and well-being. A systematic review of 56 studies found no consistent associations between brain structures or brain functioning and well-being, with scarce replication across studies.
Synapse has enriched 5 closely related papers on similar clinical questions. Consider them for comparative context: