Mindfulness Meditation and Network Neuroscience: Review, Synthesis, and Future Directions.
Ruchika S Prakash, Anita Shankar, Vaibhav Tripathi, Winson F.z. Yang, Megan Fisher, Clemens C C Bauer, Richard Betzel, Matthew D. Sacchet
Biological Psychiatry: Cognitive Neuroscience and Neuroimaging April 1, 2025 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpsc.2024.11.005 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Review Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Intervention | Mindfulness meditation |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Keywords | Brain organization Imaging Network neuroscience Randomized controlled trials |
| Citations | 13 |
| Key findings | Mindfulness meditation appears to shift connector hubs and reduce default mode network intraconnectivity, though global connectivity evidence is mixed. |
Abstract
Network neuroscience is an interdisciplinary field, which can be used to understand the brain by examining the connections between its constituent elements. In recent years, the application of network neuroscience approaches to study the intricate nature of the structural and functional relationships within the human brain has yielded unique insights into its organization. In this review, we begin by defining network neuroscience and providing an overview of the common metrics that describe the topology of human structural and functional brain networks. Then, we present a detailed overview of a limited but growing body of literature that has leveraged network neuroscience metrics to demonstrate the impact of mindfulness meditation on modulating the fundamental structural and functional network properties of segregation, integration, and influence. Although preliminary, results across studies suggest that mindfulness meditation results in a shift in connector hubs, such as the anterior cingulate cortex, the thalamus, and the mid-insula. Although there is mixed evidence regarding the impact of mindfulness training on global metrics of connectivity, the default mode network exhibits reduced intraconnectivity following mindfulness training. Our review also underscores essential directions for future research, including a more comprehensive examination of mindfulness training and its potential to influence structural and functional connections at the nodal, network, and whole-brain levels. Furthermore, we emphasize the importance of open science, adoption of rigorous study designs to improve the internal validity of studies, and the inclusion of diverse samples in neuroimaging studies to comprehensively characterize the impact of mindfulness on brain organization.
Comparable studies
Other narrative reviews on meditation, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mindfulness training as a clinical intervention: A conceptual and empirical review. Clinical populations | 2003 | Review | |
| Mindfulness: Theoretical Foundations and Evidence for its Salutary Effects | 2007 | Review | |
| Mindfulness Interventions | 2016 | Review | |
| Mind the Hype: A Critical Evaluation and Prescriptive Agenda for Research on Mindfulness and Meditation | 2017 | Review | |
| Mindfulness and acceptance: expanding the cognitive-behavioral tradition | 2005 | Review |
Citations in the library
Cited by 9
- 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
- Neural and molecular changes during a mind-body reconceptualization, meditation, and open label placebo healing intervention Communications Biology November 6, 2025
- Posterior cingulate cortex downregulation training using fMRI neurofeedback in adolescents with early life adversity exposure: a randomized, single-blind trial. Translational Psychiatry July 13, 2025
- The Role of Neuroplasticity in Well-Being September 25, 2026
and 4 more in the library
Cites 46
- Construct Validity of the Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire in Meditating and Nonmeditating Samples Assessment February 29, 2008
- Meditation experience is associated with increased cortical thickness Neuroreport November 7, 2005
- Short-term meditation training improves attention and self-regulation Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences October 11, 2007
- Meditation experience is associated with differences in default mode network activity and connectivity Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences November 23, 2011
- Attending to the present: mindfulness meditation reveals distinct neural modes of self-reference Social Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience August 13, 2007
and 41 more in the library