Inducing a meditative state by artificial perturbations: A mechanistic understanding of brain dynamics underlying meditation.
Paulina Clara Dagnino, Javier A. Galadí, Estela Càmara, Gustavo Deco, Anira Escrichs
Network Neuroscience 2024 DOI: 10.1162/netn_a_00366 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Observational study with computational modeling Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Population | Expert meditators and controls |
| Intervention | meditation |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Keywords | Brain states Stimulation Whole-brain modeling FMRI |
| Citations | 4 |
| Key findings | Meditation involves distinct whole-brain dynamics compared to rest, and transitions between these states can be induced via localized artificial perturbations in a whole-brain model. |
Abstract
Contemplative neuroscience has increasingly explored meditation using neuroimaging. However, the brain mechanisms underlying meditation remain elusive. Here, we implemented a mechanistic framework to explore the spatiotemporal dynamics of expert meditators during meditation and rest, and controls during rest. We first applied a model-free approach by defining a probabilistic metastable substate (PMS) space for each condition, consisting of different probabilities of occurrence from a repertoire of dynamic patterns. Moreover, we implemented a model-based approach by adjusting the PMS of each condition to a whole-brain model, which enabled us to explore in silico perturbations to transition from resting-state to meditation and vice versa. Consequently, we assessed the sensitivity of different brain areas regarding their perturbability and their mechanistic local-global effects. Overall, our work reveals distinct whole-brain dynamics in meditation compared to rest, and how transitions can be induced with localized artificial perturbations. It motivates future work regarding meditation as a practice in health and as a potential therapy for brain disorders.
Comparable studies
Other observational and cohort studies on meditation, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Using Self-Report Assessment Methods to Explore Facets of Mindfulness Undergraduate students | 2006 | Observational cohort | |
| Effectiveness of a meditation-based stress reduction program in the treatment of anxiety disorders Patients with generalized anxiety disorder or panic disorder with or without agoraphobia | 1992 | Observational cohort | n = 22 |
| Meditation experience is associated with increased cortical thickness Participants with extensive Insight meditation experience and matched controls | 2005 | Observational cohort | n = 20 |
| Meditation experience is associated with differences in default mode network activity and connectivity Experienced meditators and matched meditation-naive controls | 2011 | Observational cohort | |
| Long-term meditators self-induce high-amplitude gamma synchrony during mental practice Long-term Buddhist practitioners and controls | 2004 | Observational cohort |
Citations in the library
Cited by 2
- Long-term mindfulness meditation increases occurrence of sensory and attention brain states. Frontiers in Human Neuroscience January 6, 2025
- Dynamic Repertoire of Brain Networks in Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy During Rumination: A Randomized Controlled Trial Biological Psychiatry Global Open Science May 14, 2026
Cites 54
- Meditation experience is associated with increased cortical thickness Neuroreport November 7, 2005
- Long-term meditators self-induce high-amplitude gamma synchrony during mental practice Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences November 8, 2004
- The salience network is responsible for switching between the default mode network and the central executive network: Replication from DCM Neuroimage May 24, 2014
- Meditation and attention: A comparison of the effects of concentrative and mindfulness meditation on sustained attention Mental Health, Religion & Culture May 1, 1999
- Meditation leads to reduced default mode network activity beyond an active task Cognitive, Affective, & Behavioral Neuroscience April 22, 2015
and 49 more in the library