Dynamic brain states underlying advanced concentrative absorption meditation: A 7-T fMRI-intensive case study.
Isaac N Treves, Winson F.z. Yang, Terje Sparby, Matthew D. Sacchet
Network Neuroscience 2025 DOI: 10.1162/netn_a_00432 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Case study Case report Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 1 |
| Population | A meditator practicing jhāna advanced absorptive concentration meditation |
| Intervention | jhāna advanced absorptive concentration meditation (ACAM-J) |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Keywords | Advanced meditation Consciousness Dfc Dynamic brain states FMRI |
| Citations | 6 |
| Key findings | Three brain states (DMN-anticorrelated, hyperconnected, and sparsely connected) distinguished jhāna advanced absorptive concentration meditation from nonmeditative control conditions, with the DMN-anticorrelated state increasing and the hyperconnected state decreasing over the meditation session. |
Abstract
Advanced meditation consists of states and stages of practice that unfold with mastery and time. Dynamic functional connectivity (DFC) analysis of fMRI could identify brain states underlying advanced meditation. We conducted an intensive DFC case study of a meditator who completed 27 runs of jhāna advanced absorptive concentration meditation (ACAM-J), concurrently with 7-T fMRI and phenomenological reporting. We identified three brain states that marked differences between ACAM-J and nonmeditative control conditions. These states were characterized as a DMN-anticorrelated brain state, a hyperconnected brain state, and a sparsely connected brain state. Our analyses indicate higher prevalence of the DMN-anticorrelated brain state during ACAM-J than control states, and the prevalence increased significantly with deeper ACAM-J states. The hyperconnected brain state was also more common during ACAM-J and was characterized by elevated thalamocortical connectivity and somatomotor network connectivity. The hyperconnected brain state significantly decreased over the course of ACAM-J, associating with self-reports of wider attention and diminished physical sensations. This brain state may be related to sensory awareness. Advanced meditators have developed well-honed abilities to move in and out of different altered states of consciousness, and this study provides initial evidence that functional neuroimaging can objectively track their dynamics.
Comparable studies
Other case reports and case series on meditation, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brain sources of EEG gamma frequency during volitionally meditation-induced, altered states of consciousness, and experience of the self Advanced meditator | 2001 | Case study | n = 1 |
| Mindfulness Meditation for Alcohol Relapse Prevention: A Feasibility Pilot Study Adult alcohol-dependent graduates of an intensive outpatient program | 2008 | Prospective case series | n = 19 |
| How does it feel to lack a sense of boundaries? A case study of a long-term mindfulness meditator. A single long-term mindfulness practitioner (S) with 40 years of practice in... | 2015 | Qualitative case study | n = 1 |
| Loving‐kindness meditation to enhance recovery from negative symptoms of schizophrenia Individuals suffering from schizophrenia-spectrum disorders with persistent negative... | 2009 | Case study | |
| Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy for Problem Gambling A female problem gambler | 2011 | Case study | n = 1 |
Citations in the library
Cited by 8
- Mindfulness, cognition, and long-term meditators: Toward a science of advanced meditation. Imaging Neuroscience 2025
- Integrated Phenomenology and Brain Connectivity Demonstrate Changes in Nonlinear Processing in Jhana Advanced Meditation. Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience May 14, 2025
- Perspectives on Meditation-based Preparation for Psychedelic Experiences: Insights from Practitioners with Combined Meditation and Psychedelic Experience Mindfulness August 15, 2026
- Advanced meditation, sleep, and consciousness science: An emerging frontier. Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews August 1, 2026
- Studies on the impact of meditation on mental health: A critical review. Psychiatria Danubina April 1, 2026
and 3 more in the library
Cites 41
- How Does Mindfulness Meditation Work? Proposing Mechanisms of Action From a Conceptual and Neural Perspective Perspectives on Psychological Science October 14, 2011
- Dynamic functional connectivity of the default mode network tracks daydreaming Neuroimage June 25, 2014
- Default Mode Network Modulation by Psychedelics: A Systematic Review The International Journal of Neuropsychopharmacology October 21, 2022
- Neural correlates of nondual awareness in meditation. Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences 2014
- The Control of Global Brain Dynamics: Opposing Actions of Frontoparietal Control and Default Mode Networks on Attention Journal of Neuroscience January 8, 2014
and 36 more in the library