Mindfulness-based stress reduction training modulates striatal and cerebellar connectivity.
Emiliano Santarnecchi, Eutizio Egiziano, Sicilia D'Arista, Concetta Gardi, Sara M Romanella, Lucia Mencarelli, Simone Rossi, Mario Reda, Alessandro Rossi
Journal of Neuroscience Research May 1, 2021 DOI: 10.1002/jnr.24798 (opens in new tab) via PubMed
Summary
AI-generated from the abstractAn 8-week mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) training program alters functional and effective connectivity in the dorsal striatum, particularly the putamen, in healthy individuals. After training, local connectivity decreased in the right anterior putamen and insula during spontaneous mind-wandering and in the right cerebellum during meditation. Effective connectivity analysis showed reduced modulation by the anterior cingulate cortex over the anterior putamen and a change in excitatory and inhibitory interactions between the posterior putamen and cerebellum. These connectivity rearrangements may help explain mindfulness-related behavioral effects, especially in pain perception.
Study at a glance
| Characteristics | Observational cohort Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Population | Healthy individuals |
| Intervention | Mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) training program |
| Duration | 8-week intervention |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Keywords | Brain connectivity Putamen |
| Key finding | MBSR training reduces local connectivity in the right anterior putamen and insula during mind-wandering and in the right cerebellum during meditation, and alters effective connectivity between the anterior cingulate cortex, putamen, and cerebellum. |
Abstract
Mindfulness is a meditation practice frequently associated with changes in subjective evaluation of cognitive and sensorial experience, as well as with modifications of brain activity and morphometry. Aside from the anatomical localization of functional changes induced by mindfulness practice, little is known about changes in functional and effective functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) connectivity. Here we performed a connectivity fMRI analysis in a group of healthy individuals participating in an 8-week mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) training program. Data from both a "mind-wandering" and a "meditation" state were acquired before and after the MBSR course. Results highlighted decreased local connectivity after training in the right anterior putamen and insula during spontaneous mind-wandering and the right cerebellum during the meditative state. A further effective connectivity analysis revealed (a) decreased modulation by the anterior cingulate cortex over the anterior portion of the putamen, and (b) a change in left and right posterior putamen excitatory input and inhibitory output with the cerebellum, respectively. Results suggest a rearrangement of dorsal striatum functional and effective connectivity in response to mindfulness practice, with changes in cortico-subcortical-cerebellar modulatory dynamics. Findings might be relevant for the understanding of widely documented mindfulness behavioral effects, especially those related to pain perception.