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Matthew L. Dixon

7 papers in the library · 359 citations · publishing 2012-2025

Papers

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Exploring Dynamic Thought Patterns using fMRI and Experience Sampling

November 13, 2025 S. Sheth, Matthew L. Dixon, Lawrence M Ward et al. 1 citation preprint

One of the most striking features of human consciousness is its ability to foster an ongoing, seemingly continuous stream of thought. Prior studies have provided valuable insights into the neural correlates of the content of thought (e.g., whether it is task related or not). However, independent of its content, the stream of thought can also be characterized by its dynamics—how it changes over...

Brain Network Organization During Mindful Acceptance of Emotions

bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory) April 1, 2020 Matthew L. Dixon, Manesh Girn, Kalina Christoff 14 citations preprint

Abstract Individuals use various strategies to cope with challenging emotions such as anxiety. Mindful acceptance involves broadening attentional scope and fully experiencing present moment sensory feelings (whether pleasant or unpleasant) without judgment or elaboration. In contrast, narrative-evaluation involves focusing on a narrow band of sensory experience and generating an elaborate...

Dynamics of neural recruitment surrounding the spontaneous arising of thoughts in experienced mindfulness practitioners

Neuroimage April 30, 2016 Melissa Ellamil, Kieran C. R. Fox, Matthew L. Dixon et al. 150 citations

Thoughts arise spontaneously in our minds with remarkable frequency, but tracking the brain systems associated with the early inception of a thought has proved challenging. Here we addressed this issue by taking advantage of the heightened introspective ability of experienced mindfulness practitioners to observe the onset of their spontaneously arising thoughts. We found subtle differences in...

Functional neuroanatomy of meditation: A review and meta-analysis of 78\n functional neuroimaging investigations

arXiv (Cornell University) March 21, 2016 Kieran C. R. Fox, Matthew L. Dixon, Savannah Nijeboer et al.

Meditation is a family of mental practices that encompasses a wide array of\ntechniques employing distinctive mental strategies. We systematically reviewed\n78 functional neuroimaging (fMRI and PET) studies of meditation, and used\nactivation likelihood estimation to meta-analyze 257 peak foci from 31\nexperiments involving 527 participants. We found reliably dissociable patterns\nof brain...

Functional neuroanatomy of meditation: A review and meta-analysis of 78 functional neuroimaging investigations.

Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews March 21, 2016 K. Fox, Matthew L. Dixon, Savannah Nijeboer et al.

Meditation is a family of mental practices that encompasses a wide array of techniques employing distinctive mental strategies. We systematically reviewed 78 functional neuroimaging (fMRI and PET) studies of meditation, and used activation likelihood estimation to meta-analyze 257 peak foci from 31 experiments involving 527 participants. We found reliably dissociable patterns of brain...

Functional neuroanatomy of meditation: A review and meta-analysis of 78 functional neuroimaging investigations

arXiv Preprint Archive March 21, 2016 Kieran C. R. Fox, Matthew L. Dixon, Savannah Nijeboer et al.

Meditation is a family of mental practices that encompasses a wide array of techniques employing distinctive mental strategies. We systematically reviewed 78 functional neuroimaging (fMRI and PET) studies of meditation, and used activation likelihood estimation to meta-analyze 257 peak foci from 31 experiments involving 527 participants. We found reliably dissociable patterns of brain...

Meditation Experience Predicts Introspective Accuracy

PLoS One September 25, 2012 Kieran C. R. Fox, Pierre Zakarauskas, Matthew L. Dixon et al. 194 citations

The accuracy of subjective reports, especially those involving introspection of one's own internal processes, remains unclear, and research has demonstrated large individual differences in introspective accuracy. It has been hypothesized that introspective accuracy may be heightened in persons who engage in meditation practices, due to the highly introspective nature of such practices. We...