Topological changes of brain network during mindfulness meditation: an exploratory source level magnetoencephalographic study
Anna Lardone, M. Liparoti, P. Sorrentino, R. Minino, A. Polverino, Emahnuel Troisi Lopez, S. Bonavita, F. Lucidi, G. Sorrentino, L. Mandolesi
AIMS Neuroscience May 7, 2022 DOI: 10.3934/neuroscience.2022013 (opens in new tab) via Semantic Scholar
Summary
AI-generated from the abstractExperienced meditators show distinct brain network changes during mindfulness meditation compared to non-meditators. Using magnetoencephalography, the study compared 26 experienced meditators with 29 non-meditators. During meditation, experienced meditators exhibited increased betweenness centrality in delta, alpha, and beta brainwave bands across cortical areas (left medial orbital cortex, left postcentral area, right visual primary cortex) and subcortical regions (left caudate nucleus, thalamus). Beta band activity also increased in parietal and occipital areas. These findings suggest mindfulness meditation can alter functional brain networks, offering a potential explanation for neural circuits involved in the meditative process.
Study at a glance
| Characteristics | Cross-sectional study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 55 |
| Population | Experienced meditators and individuals with no meditation experience |
| Intervention | Mindfulness Meditation |
| Keywords | Medicine Psychology |
| Key finding | Experienced meditators showed increased betweenness centrality in multiple brainwave bands and brain regions during meditation compared to non-meditators. |
Abstract
We have previously evidenced that Mindfulness Meditation (MM) in experienced meditators (EMs) is associated with long-lasting topological changes in resting state condition. However, what occurs during the meditative phase is still debated. Utilizing magnetoencephalography (MEG), the present study is aimed at comparing the topological features of the brain network in a group of EMs (n = 26) during the meditative phase with those of individuals who had no previous experience of any type of meditation (NM group, n = 29). A wide range of topological changes in the EM group as compared to the NM group has been shown. Specifically, in EMs, we have observed increased betweenness centrality in delta, alpha, and beta bands in both cortical (left medial orbital cortex, left postcentral area, and right visual primary cortex) and subcortical (left caudate nucleus and thalamus) areas. Furthermore, the degree of beta band in parietal and occipital areas of EMs was increased too. Our exploratory study suggests that the MM can change the functional brain network and provides an explanatory hypothesis on the brain circuits characterizing the meditative process.