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R. Tang

2 papers in the library · publishing 2019-2020

Papers

Brief Mindfulness Meditation Induces Gray Matter Changes in a Brain Hub

Journal of Neural Transplantation and Plasticity November 16, 2020 R. Tang, Karl Friston, Yi-Yuan Tang

Brief mindfulness meditation—ten hours total over two to four weeks—increases gray matter volume in the ventral posterior cingulate cortex (PCC), a brain region central to self-awareness, emotion, cognition, and aging. A randomized controlled trial compared Integrative Body-Mind Training (IBMT) with relaxation training in healthy adults. The increase in ventral PCC volume was smaller in individuals with higher baseline temperamental trait scores, indicating that individual differences modulate training-induced brain plasticity. These structural changes suggest that even short-term mindfulness practice may help protect against mood disorders and age-related cognitive decline.

DOI: 10.1155/2020/8830005 (opens in new tab) Full text (opens in new tab) Psychology Medicine

Frontal theta activity and white matter plasticity following mindfulness meditation

Current Opinion in Psychology April 18, 2019 Yi-Yuan Tang, R. Tang, M. Rothbart et al.

Frontal midline theta (FMθ) brain activity may index the mental control needed to maintain a meditative state, while alpha activity relates to the preparation required to achieve it. Without sufficient mental preparation, achieving a meditative state is difficult. Evidence from human and animal studies suggests that mindfulness meditation induces white matter plasticity by increasing FMθ activity, offering insights into how to effectively enhance brain plasticity through meditation.

DOI: 10.1016/j.copsyc.2019.04.004 (opens in new tab) Full text (opens in new tab) Psychology Medicine