Facilitating Meditation with Focused Ultrasound Neuromodulation: A First Investigation in Experienced Practitioners
Joshua Cain, Tracy Brandmeyer, Ninette Simonian, Joseph L. Sanguinetti, Shinzen Young, Matthew D. Sacchet, Nicco Reggente
January 31, 2024 preprint DOI: 10.31234/osf.io/3bzg6 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Within-subjects experimental study with sham control |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 10 |
| Population | Experienced vipassana meditators |
| Duration | 12-minute stimulation during each of four separate one-hour sessions |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Keywords | Neuromodulation Focused ultrasound Psychotherapist Applied psychology Radiology Stimulation |
| Citations | 9 |
| Key findings | Focused ultrasound stimulation of the caudate nucleus, but not the posterior cingulate cortex or insula, significantly improved self-reported meditative depth and mood, and reduced heart rate while increasing heart rate variability, compared to sham stimulation. |
Abstract
This study aims to assess the validity of focused ultrasound (FUS) stimulation as a method for facilitating meditative development, which may have application for novice or intermediate meditators seeking to improve their practice. A growing body of work suggests profound benefits to health and wellbeing following consistent meditation practice; however, successfully maintaining such a practice proves to be difficult for many who attempt it. By leveraging what is known about the neural correlates of meditation, we investigate the possibility of lowering this barrier of entry via direct neuromodulation using FUS. Specifically, we applied ultrasound for 12 minutes to either the posterior cingulate cortex, bilateral caudate, or bilateral insula in experienced (vipassana) meditators while they engaged in their habitual mindfulness meditation across four separate one-hour sessions. Subjective effects reported during and after each meditation session involving stimulation are compared to a sham stimulation session, with significant differences considered evidence for an effect of FUS. Physiological effects are also reported. Our preliminary data (n=10) suggests a strong, significant improvement in self-reported meditative depth during/after Caudate stimulation while questionnaires taken after the meditation further suggest an augmented state of meditation as well as general mood induced by this condition. Compounding this, reduced heart rate and increased heart rate variability (compared to sham) were observed following FUS, again unique to the Caudate stimulation condition, while these measures were found to strongly correlate with reported depth, suggesting a mechanistic relationship between these adaptive changes in physiological arousal and successful meditation induced by targeting this structure.
Comparable studies
Other experimental studies on meditation, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| The benefits of being present: Mindfulness and its role in psychological well-being. Cancer patients (clinical intervention study) | 2003 | Mixed methods: scale development, correlational, quasi-experimental, laboratory, experience-sampling, and clinical intervention study | |
| Loving-kindness meditation increases social connectedness. | 2008 | Controlled laboratory experiment | |
| Mindfulness and mind-wandering: Finding convergence through opposing constructs. | 2012 | Two studies: correlational study and experimental study | |
| Mental Training Enhances Attentional Stability: Neural and Behavioral Evidence | 2009 | Experimental study | |
| Mindfulness meditation and substance use in an incarcerated population. Incarcerated population | 2006 | Quasi-experimental with treatment-as-usual control condition |
Citations in the library
Cited by 8
- Connectome-Based Predictive Modeling of Trait Mindfulness. Human Brain Mapping 2025
- ENIGMA-Meditation: Worldwide Consortium for Neuroscientific Investigations of Meditation Practices. Biological Psychiatry: Cognitive Neuroscience and Neuroimaging April 1, 2025
- Enhancing Equanimity With Noninvasive Brain Stimulation: A Novel Framework for Mindfulness Interventions. Biological Psychiatry: Cognitive Neuroscience and Neuroimaging April 1, 2025
- Connectome predictive modeling of trait mindfulness bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory) July 14, 2024
- From hidden springs to endless oceans: exploring the complementary roles of the amygdala and hippocampus in phenomenal experience. Neuroscience of Consciousness 2026
and 3 more in the library
Cites 39
- The Brain's Default Mode Network Annual Review of Neuroscience May 4, 2015
- Construct Validity of the Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire in Meditating and Nonmeditating Samples Assessment February 29, 2008
- Alterations in Brain and Immune Function Produced by Mindfulness Meditation Psychosomatic Medicine July 1, 2003
- The toronto mindfulness scale: Development and validation Journal of Clinical Psychology 2006
- Meditation experience is associated with differences in default mode network activity and connectivity Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences November 23, 2011
and 34 more in the library