Meditation-State Functional Connectivity (msFC): Strengthening of the Dorsal Attention Network and Beyond.
Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM January 1, 2012 Brett Froeliger, Eric L Garland, Rachel V Kozink et al.
Meditation practitioners show stronger functional connectivity within the Dorsal Attention Network during rest compared to non-meditators. While meditating, practitioners increase connectivity between the Dorsal Attention Network and networks involved in self-referential processing and emotion (default mode and salience networks), while decreasing connectivity between attention regions and prefrontal and insular areas. More years of meditation experience correlate with stronger connectivity between attention networks and subcortical and parietal regions, but weaker connectivity with lateral parietal and insular areas. These findings suggest meditation strengthens attention networks and their coupling with other brain networks.