BOLD signal and functional connectivity associated with loving kindness meditation
Kathleen A. Garrison, Dustin Scheinost, R. Todd Constable, Judson A. Brewer
Brain and Behavior February 12, 2014 DOI: 10.1002/brb3.219 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Cross-sectional functional magnetic resonance imaging study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Population | Experienced meditators and novices |
| Intervention | Loving kindness meditation |
| Topics | Default mode network Meditation |
| Keywords | Precuneus Insula Posterior cingulate Kindness Feeling Cognitive psychology Clinical psychology |
| Citations | 80 |
| Key findings | Experienced meditators show reduced BOLD signal and intrinsic connectivity in the posterior cingulate cortex/precuneus during loving kindness meditation compared to novices, along with distinct patterns of functional connectivity consistent with a selfless, present-centered focus. |
Abstract
Loving kindness is a form of meditation involving directed well-wishing, typically supported by the silent repetition of phrases such as "may all beings be happy," to foster a feeling of selfless love. Here we used functional magnetic resonance imaging to assess the neural substrate of loving kindness meditation in experienced meditators and novices. We first assessed group differences in blood oxygen level-dependent (BOLD) signal during loving kindness meditation. We next used a relatively novel approach, the intrinsic connectivity distribution of functional connectivity, to identify regions that differ in intrinsic connectivity between groups, and then used a data-driven approach to seed-based connectivity analysis to identify which connections differ between groups. Our findings suggest group differences in brain regions involved in self-related processing and mind wandering, emotional processing, inner speech, and memory. Meditators showed overall reduced BOLD signal and intrinsic connectivity during loving kindness as compared to novices, more specifically in the posterior cingulate cortex/precuneus (PCC/PCu), a finding that is consistent with our prior work and other recent neuroimaging studies of meditation. Furthermore, meditators showed greater functional connectivity during loving kindness between the PCC/PCu and the left inferior frontal gyrus, whereas novices showed greater functional connectivity during loving kindness between the PCC/PCu and other cortical midline regions of the default mode network, the bilateral posterior insula lobe, and the bilateral parahippocampus/hippocampus. These novel findings suggest that loving kindness meditation involves a present-centered, selfless focus for meditators as compared to novices.
Comparable studies
Other cross-sectional and survey studies on meditation, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Construct Validity of the Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire in Meditating and Nonmeditating Samples Experienced meditators and nonmeditating comparison groups | 2008 | Cross-sectional study | |
| Neural Correlates of Dispositional Mindfulness During Affect Labeling Adult participants | 2007 | Observational cross-sectional | n = 27 |
| Assessing mindfulness in children and adolescents: Development and validation of the Child and Adolescent Mindfulness Measure (CAMM). School-aged children and adolescents | 2011 | Cross-sectional validation study | n = 1,413 |
| Mindfulness and self-compassion as predictors of psychological wellbeing in long-term meditators and matched nonmeditators Experienced meditators and demographically matched nonmeditators | 2012 | Cross-sectional study | n = 152 |
| Mechanisms of Action in the Inverse Relationship Between Mindfulness and Psychological Distress Undergraduates | 2008 | Cross-sectional, correlational |
Citations in the library
Cited by 45
- Psychedelics, Meditation, and Self-Consciousness Frontiers in Psychology September 4, 2018
- The effect of loving-kindness meditation on positive emotions: a meta-analytic review Frontiers in Psychology November 3, 2015
- Loving‐Kindness Meditation Effects on Well‐Being and Altruism: A Mixed‐Methods Online RCT Applied Psychology: Health and Well-Being June 23, 2016
- Beyond the veil of duality—topographic reorganization model of meditation Neuroscience of Consciousness 2022
- Taking the body off the mind: Decreased functional connectivity between somatomotor and default‐mode networks following Floatation‐REST Human Brain Mapping April 9, 2021
and 40 more in the library
Cites 15
- Meditation experience is associated with differences in default mode network activity and connectivity Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences November 23, 2011
- Loving-kindness and compassion meditation: potential for psychological interventions. Clinical Psychology Review July 26, 2011
- Regulation of the Neural Circuitry of Emotion by Compassion Meditation: Effects of Meditative Expertise PLoS One March 25, 2008
- Investigation of mindfulness meditation practitioners with voxel-based morphometry Social Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience December 3, 2007
- Functional brain mapping of the relaxation response and meditation Neuroreport May 1, 2000
and 10 more in the library