Inducing a meditative state by artificial perturbations: A causal mechanistic understanding of brain dynamics underlying meditation
Paulina Clara Dagnino, Javier A. Galadí, Estela Càmara, Gustavo Deco, Anira Escrichs
bioRxiv Preprint Server July 27, 2023 preprint DOI: 10.1101/2023.07.27.550828 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Observational and computational modeling study |
|---|---|
| Population | Expert meditators |
| Intervention | Meditation |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Citations | 1 |
| Key findings | Meditation exhibits distinct whole-brain dynamics from rest, and the meditative state can be induced via localized perturbations of somatomotor and dorsal attention networks. |
Abstract
Contemplative neuroscience has increasingly explored meditation using neuroimaging. However, the brain mechanisms underlying meditation remain elusive. Here, we implemented a causal mechanistic framework to explore the spatiotemporal dynamics of expert meditators during meditation and rest. We first applied a model-free approach by defining a probabilistic metastable substate (PMS) space for each state, consisting of different probabilities of occurrence from a repertoire of dynamic patterns. Different brain signatures were mainly found in the triple-network model (i.e., the executive control, salience, and default-mode networks). Moreover, we implemented a model-based approach by adjusting the PMS of the resting state to a whole-brain model, which enabled us to explore in silico perturbations to transition to the meditation state. Consequently, we assessed the sensitivity of different brain areas regarding their perturbability and their mechanistic local-global effects. Using a synchronous protocol, we successfully transitioned from the resting state to the meditative state by shifting areas mainly from the somatomotor and dorsal attention networks. Overall, our work reveals distinct whole-brain dynamics in meditation compared to rest, and how the meditation state 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
Cites 48
- Meditation experience is associated with increased cortical thickness Neuroreport November 7, 2005
- The salience network is responsible for switching between the default mode network and the central executive network: Replication from DCM Neuroimage May 24, 2014
- Effects of Meditation Experience on Functional Connectivity of Distributed Brain Networks Frontiers in Human Neuroscience 2012
- Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction, Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy, and Zen Meditation for Depression, Anxiety, Pain, and Psychological Distress Journal of Psychiatric Practice July 1, 2012
- Mindfulness-induced changes in gamma band activity – Implications for the default mode network, self-reference and attention Clinical Neurophysiology September 21, 2011
and 43 more in the library