Brain Sciences
December 6, 2023
Florian Kurth, Sarah Strohmaier, Eileen Luders
7 citations
Older age is linked to smaller orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) volumes, but this age-related decline is less steep in long-term meditation practitioners than in non-practitioners. In a sample of 50 meditators and 50 matched controls, negative correlations between age and OFC volumes were found in both groups, yet meditators showed a diminished decline in several left and right subregions (Fo2, Fo3, Fo4, Fo7, left Fo5, and right Fo6). The OFC contributes to mental processes related to meditation, and different subregions support distinct brain functions. Further research is needed to understand the functional implications of these findings for meditation and the aging brain.
Frontiers in Psychiatry
January 1, 2022
Otto Simonsson, José Carlos Bouso, Florian Kurth et al.
6 citations
The corpus callosum, a brain structure connecting the two hemispheres, was thicker in the isthmus region among 22 ayahuasca users compared to 22 matched controls. A positive correlation was observed between callosal thickness in the rostral body and the number of past ayahuasca sessions, though neither finding survived correction for multiple comparisons. No brain region was thicker in controls than in ayahuasca users, and no region was negatively linked to ayahuasca use. This provides preliminary evidence of an association between ayahuasca use and callosal structure, but replication with larger samples and longitudinal designs is needed.
Brain Imaging and Behavior
December 1, 2021
Florian Kurth, Sára E Zsadanyi, Eileen Luders
Long-term meditation practice is associated with slower age-related gray matter loss in specific subregions of the subgenual cingulate cortex, an area involved in emotional regulation and autonomic functions. In a comparison of 50 long-term meditators (ages 24-77) with 50 matched controls, both groups showed significant age-related decline in four subgenual subregions, but meditators had significantly lower annual tissue loss in left and right area s32 and right area 25. These regions support mood regulation, autonomic processing, and emotion-cognition integration, which are all engaged during meditation. The results suggest that meditation may slow brain aging in these areas.
Frontiers in Psychology
January 1, 2017
Florian Kurth, Nicolas Cherbuin, Eileen Luders
Meditation may protect the aging brain, but how it does so is not well understood. This review first examines normal brain aging, focusing on telomeres, inflammation, stress regulation, and macroscopic brain anatomy. It then summarizes evidence suggesting meditation has positive effects on brain aging, and discusses possible mechanisms mediating these effects. Critical questions remain unanswered, and existing research needs better integration.
Social Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience
January 1, 2015
Florian Kurth, Allan MacKenzie-Graham, Arthur W Toga et al.
Long-term meditators show altered gray matter asymmetry in brain regions linked to self-referential thought and attention. Compared to 50 matched controls, 50 long-term meditators had decreased rightward asymmetry in the precuneus, a core node of the default mode network. More meditation practice years correlated with stronger leftward asymmetry near the posterior intraparietal sulcus, an area involved in attention, and with stronger rightward asymmetry in the pregenual cingulate cortex. These patterns suggest meditation may adapt the default mode network and attention-related processing.
Neuro : open journal
January 1, 2014
Florian Kurth, Eileen Luders, Brian Wu et al.
A six-week mindfulness meditation course was associated with detectable changes in brain gray matter in older adults with sleep disturbances. Gray matter increased in the precuneus, a region linked to the default mode network, while decreases in other areas may relate to remediation of brain structures underlying sleep complaints. The findings suggest that even a brief mindfulness intervention can alter cerebral gray matter in older adults.
Psychosomatic Medicine
Eileen Luders, Felipe A Jain, Florian Kurth
Long-term meditation practice is associated with reduced age-related shrinkage of the amygdala, a brain region that typically loses volume as people grow older. In 50 long-term meditators compared with 50 matched controls, both groups showed smaller amygdala volumes with increasing age, but the decline was significantly steeper in non-meditators. The effect was strongest in the laterobasal subregion, which is involved in self-focused reflection. The findings suggest that meditation may slow brain aging in the amygdala.