2026 ECNP Congress

PS04-4251

Mapping the neural architecture of self-compassion: a multimodal resting-state study

Gina Sophie Scheiwe — P. König, A. Küttner, R. Redlich · Martin-Luther-Universität Halle-Wittenberg, Institute of Psychology, Halle Saale, Germany

2026 ECNP Congress

Introduction

Self-Compassion is increasingly recognized as a protective factor in mental health and a potential resilience mechanism in major depressive disorder (MDD) [1]. Conceptually, it reflects an adaptive form of emotion regulation characterized by self-kindness, mindful awareness, and reduced self-criticism. While behavioral evidence consistently links higher Self-Compassion to lower psychopathology, its neurobiological underpinnings remain insufficiently understood. In particular, little is known about how self-compassion relates to intrinsic brain network organization in depression [2,3]. The present study aimed to investigate the neural architecture of Self-Compassion by examining resting-state functional connectivity (rsFC) in patients with MDD and matched healthy controls (HC), with a focus on limbic regions central to emotion processing and self-referential cognition.

Methods

Resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI) data were analyzed from a sample of 69 patients with MDD and matched 69 HCs. Self-Compassion was assessed using the Self-Compassion Scale, yielding a total score and two subscales reflecting Self-Compassionate and Self-Critical attitudes. Seed-based rsFC analyses were conducted using bilateral amygdala and hippocampus regions. Associations between functional connectivity patterns and Self-Compassion measures were examined within and between groups, including group-by-trait interaction effects. Analyses controlled for age and gender, and statistical significance was determined using threshold-free cluster enhancement (TFCE) with family-wise error correction (FWE).

Results

A significant group-by-Self-Compassion interaction emerged for the Self-Compassionate Attitude, involving connectivity between the right hippocampus and medial prefrontal regions, including the left superior frontal cortex and bilateral anterior cingulate cortex (k= 226, pFWE= 0.045). This interaction reflected opposing patterns, with positive associations between Self-Compassion and connectivity in MDD patients and negative associations in HCs. Across both groups, higher overall Self-Compassion was associated with increased connectivity between the hippocampus and bilateral inferior frontal cortex (k= 101, pFWE= 0.036; k= 172, pFWE= 0.027; k= 51, pFWE= 0.036), as well as the right postcentral and supramarginal gyrus (k= 300, pFWE= 0.021). In contrast, a higher Self-Compassionate Attitude was linked to reduced connectivity between limbic regions and bilateral precuneus (k= 2500, pFWE= 0.002; k =118, pFWE= 0.037) and medial prefrontal cortex (k= 55, pFWE= 0.030). Lastly, Self-Compassionate Attitude was positively associated with increased connectivity between the left hippocampus and the bilateral inferior and orbitofrontal cortex (k= 172, pFWE= 0.027; k= 51, pFWE= 0.036).

Discussion

These findings indicate that Self-Compassion is associated with distinct patterns of intrinsic functional connectivity within limbic–prefrontal and default mode networks. Increased limbic–prefrontal connectivity in MDD may reflect compensatory recruitment of cognitive control systems to support emotion regulation, whereas reduced connectivity in HCs may indicate greater neural efficiency and less reliance on top-down control. Moreover, decreased coupling between limbic regions and default mode network structures suggests reduced maladaptive self-referential processing, such as rumination, in individuals with higher Self-Compassion. Overall, the results highlight Self-Compassion as a neurobiologically relevant construct that differentially modulates brain network dynamics depending on psychopathological status. These findings contribute to a more nuanced understanding of the neural mechanisms underlying Self-Compassion and underscore its potential relevance for interventions targeting affective disorders.

References

  1. Marsh, I. C., Chan, S. W. Y., & MacBeth, A. (2018). Self-compassion and Psychological Distress in Adolescents—A Meta-analysis. Mindfulness, 9(4), 1011–1027. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12671-017-0850-7
  2. Lutz, J., Brühl, A. B., Scheerer, H., Jäncke, L., & Herwig, U. (2016). Neural correlates of mindful self-awareness in mindfulness meditators and meditation-naïve subjects revisited. Biological Psychology, 119, 21–30. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biopsycho.2016.06.010
  3. Joss, D., Datko, M., Washington, C. I., Tresvalles, M. A., Mete, M., Lazar, S. W., Schuman-Olivier, Z., & Hoge, E. A. (2025). Neural correlates of reduction in self-judgment after mindful self-compassion training: A pilot study with resting state fMRI. Journal of Mood & Anxiety Disorders, 9, 100096. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.xjmad.2024.100096