Posterior cingulate cortex/precuneus blood oxygen-level dependent signal changes during the repetition of an attention task in meditators and nonmeditators.
Diego B G Rodrigues, Shirley S Lacerda, Joana B Balardin, Khallil T Chaim, Bruna Portes, Liana G Sanches-Rocha, João Radvany, João R. Sato, Luiz Eugênio A M Mello, Edson Amaro, Elisa H. Kozasa
Neuroreport December 5, 2018 DOI: 10.1097/wnr.0000000000001133 (opens in new tab) via PubMed
Summary
AI-generated from the abstractRegular meditation practitioners and nonpractitioners performed a Stroop Word-Color Task requiring sustained attention while undergoing functional MRI. Both groups responded faster on the second run than the first for neutral and incongruent trials. However, nonmeditators showed decreased activation and meditators showed increased activation in the precuneus and posterior cingulate cortex, brain regions linked to the default mode and cognitive control networks. Mental training through meditation may influence activity in these regions during tasks requiring sustained attention.
Study at a glance
| Characteristics | Observational cohort Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 40 |
| Population | Right-handed regular meditators and nonmeditators |
| Key finding | Nonmeditators showed decreased activation and meditators showed increased activation in the precuneus and posterior cingulate cortex during the second run of the Stroop Word-Color Task. |
Abstract
Among several cognitive advantages, meditation is thought to enhance practitioners' capacity for sustained attention. In the present study, we explored this question by testing meditation practitioners (meditators) and nonpractitioners (nonmeditators) on a task that requires sustained attention, the Stroop Word-Color Task (SWCT), while using functional MRI. Participants were all right-handed and included 23 regular meditators as well as 17 nonmeditators. Participants viewed color words (i.e. 'red,' 'blue,' or 'green') presented one at a time on the screen that were written in either the same color (congruent condition) or a different color (incongruent condition) and were asked to indicate the color of the print. Participants also viewed noncolor words written in unrelated colors (neutral condition). Both groups completed the same two acquisition runs. Although both meditators and nonmeditators gave faster responses on run 2 than run 1 for both the neutral and incongruent trials, nonmeditators showed decreased activation and meditators showed increased activation in precuneus/posterior cingulate cortex. These regions were previously shown to be activated in the SWCT and belong to default mode network as well as to cognitive control network. Attention to repetitive stimuli during two equal runs of SWCT is mediated by the precuneus/posterior cingulate cortex, and mental training through meditation may influence the activity of these regions during such tasks.