Exploring the effects of mindfulness meditation on resting-state functional connectivity: an overview.

Mindfulness meditation training (MMT) can reorganize the brain's functional architecture by altering resting-state functional connectivity (rsFC) within and between the default mode, salience, and central executive networks. Both increases and decreases in rsFC have been observed after MMT, with differential roles in emotion regulation, stress, and cognitive functions. Changes in rsFC after MMT are linked to modifications in cognitive performance and psycho-affective measures, which may be influenced by practice duration or delivery methods. Investigating rsFC in key brain networks during rest is a promising approach to understanding how mindfulness meditation affects overall well-being.

Study at a glance

Abstract

Mindfulness meditation has received growing interest in research over the past decades. Mindfulness meditation training (MMT) can be employed as a mental practice to improve cognitive skills such as attention and emotion regulation and may promote well-being. Neuroimaging studies have emerged to understand the effects of MMT on brain functioning. However, no review exists on the effects of MMT on resting-state brain functional connectivity (rsFC) in healthy meditation-naïve adults specifically. We, therefore, aimed to provide an overview of studies that investigated the effects of MMT on rsFC in healthy meditation-naïve adults, as well as their link to cognitive and clinical measures. Several studies reported changes in MMT-induced rsFC within and between regions of the default mode (DMN), salience (SN), and central executive (CEN) networks. Both increases and decreases in rsFC have been observed for brain regions associated with these networks after MMT, each with differential roles in emotion regulation, stress, and cognitive functions. Some studies highlighted associations between changes in rsFC after MMT and modifications in cognitive performance and psycho-affective measures, which may be influenced by MMT-specific characteristics such as practice duration or delivery methods. MMT may induce a reorganization in the brain's functional architecture by altering rsFC within and between these networks and seems to modify processes related to attention, executive memory, emotional regulation, stress, and resilience. Investigating functional connectivity during rest in key brain networks seems a promising approach to understand the effects of mindfulness meditation on overall well-being.