Network-based characterization of brain functional connectivity in Zen practitioners.
Frontiers in Psychology January 1, 2015 Phebe B Kemmer, Ying Guo, Yikai Wang et al.
Experienced Zen meditators and meditation-naïve controls underwent fMRI during an attention-to-breathing task and completed computerized neuropsychological tests. Resting-state functional connectivity differences between the groups were identified, particularly in frontoparietal circuits connected to visual and executive control areas. A machine-learning classifier distinguished meditators from controls with 79% accuracy based on brain network connectivity, and with 75% accuracy based on behavioral test scores. Variation in connectivity among frontoparietal, executive, and visual circuits correlated with performance on a sustained attention task. The findings demonstrate the utility of network analysis for studying how contemplative practice relates to brain function.