Advanced Meditation Alters Resting-State Brain Network Connectivity Correlating With Improved Mindfulness.
Ramana V. Vishnubhotla, Rupa Radhakrishnan, Kestas Kveraga, Rachael Deardorff, Chithra Ram, Dhanashri Pawale, Yu-Chien Wu, Janelle Renschler, Balachundhar Subramaniam, Senthilkumar Sadhasivam
Frontiers in Psychology 2021 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2021.745344 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Observational cohort Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 13 |
| Population | Samyama program participants (meditators) and controls |
| Intervention | Samyama meditation program |
| Duration | 8-day residential meditation program |
| Topics | Default mode network Meditation |
| Keywords | Isha yoga Samyama Brain networks FMRI Salience network |
| Registration | NCT04366544 |
| Key findings | Meditators showed significantly increased network connectivity between the salience network and default mode network after the Samyama program. |
Abstract
Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of an intensive 8-day Samyama meditation program on the brain functional connectivity using resting-state functional MRI (rs-fMRI).
Methods: Thirteen Samyama program participants (meditators) and 4 controls underwent fMRI brain scans before and after the 8-day residential meditation program. Subjects underwent fMRI with a blood oxygen level dependent (BOLD) contrast at rest and during focused breathing. Changes in network connectivity before and after Samyama program were evaluated. In addition, validated psychological metrics were correlated with changes in functional connectivity.
Results: Meditators showed significantly increased network connectivity between the salience network (SN) and default mode network (DMN) after the Samyama program (p < 0.01). Increased connectivity within the SN correlated with an improvement in self-reported mindfulness scores (p < 0.01).
Conclusion: Samyama, an intensive silent meditation program, favorably increased the resting-state functional connectivity between the salience and default mode networks. During focused breath watching, meditators had lower intra-network connectivity in specific networks. Furthermore, increased intra-network connectivity correlated with improved self-reported mindfulness after Samyama. Clinical Trials
Registration: [https://clinicaltrials.gov], Identifier: [NCT04366544]. Registered on 4/17/2020.
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 21
- Isha yoga practices, vegan diet, and participation in Samyama meditation retreat: impact on the gut microbiome & metabolome - a non-randomized trial. BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies April 5, 2023
- Psilocybin enhances insightfulness in meditation: a perspective on the global topology of brain imaging during meditation. Scientific Reports March 26, 2024
- ENIGMA-Meditation: Worldwide Consortium for Neuroscientific Investigations of Meditation Practices. Biological Psychiatry: Cognitive Neuroscience and Neuroimaging April 1, 2025
- Neural and molecular changes during a mind-body reconceptualization, meditation, and open label placebo healing intervention Communications Biology November 6, 2025
- The Balanced Mind and its Intrinsic Neural Timescales in Advanced Meditators bioRxiv Preprint Server August 29, 2024
and 16 more in the library
Cites 34
- The benefits of being present: Mindfulness and its role in psychological well-being. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology 2003
- Meditation Programs for Psychological Stress and Well-being JAMA Internal Medicine January 6, 2014
- Experience sampling during fMRI reveals default network and executive system contributions to mind wandering. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences May 26, 2009
- Meditation experience is associated with increased cortical thickness Neuroreport November 7, 2005
- Meditation experience is associated with differences in default mode network activity and connectivity Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences November 23, 2011
and 29 more in the library