Temporal Dynamics of the Default Mode Network Characterize Meditation-Induced Alterations in Consciousness.
Frontiers in Human Neuroscience January 1, 2016 Rajanikant Panda, Rose D Bharath, Neeraj Upadhyay et al.
Meditation alters both the spatial extent and the temporal dynamics of the default mode network (DMN). Using simultaneous EEG and fMRI, experienced meditators showed reduced activity in the posterior cingulate hub of the DMN and increased activity in right frontal and left temporal areas compared to healthy controls, both during rest and during meditation. EEG analysis revealed that the DMN-related microstate occurred more frequently and lasted longer in meditators, and these parameters increased further during meditation. The change in microstate duration when entering meditation correlated negatively with years of experience, indicating that long-term practice produces durable changes in DMN dynamics.