Default Mode Network, Meditation, and Age-Associated Brain Changes: What Can We Learn from the Impact of Mental Training on Well-Being as a Psychotherapeutic Approach?
Journal of Neural Transplantation and Plasticity April 2, 2019 Ricardo Ramírez-Barrantes, M. Arancibia, Jana Stojanova et al.
Aging involves cognitive decline, especially in memory and executive functions, partly due to changes in the default mode network (DMN). The DMN works antisynchronously with task-positive networks (TPN) that support executive function and memory. Regulating the DMN by activating TPN may offer neuroprotection. Meditation, a noninvasive technique, increases meta-awareness and helps control both networks. This review proposes that practicing specific meditation types could slow cognitive decline and promote healthy aging, potentially enhancing elderly quality of life.