A longitudinal study of the effect of short-term meditation training on functional network organization of the aging brain.

Eight weeks of meditation training, compared to relaxation training, alters brain network organization in older adults. At the intermediate level, meditation decreased connectivity within the default mode, salience, and somatomotor networks, and reduced connections between the default mode network and other networks. At the local level, it lowered nodal strength in the left posterior cingulate gyrus, bilateral paracentral lobule, and middle cingulate gyrus. These changes are consistent with a shift toward a more self-detached perspective and more efficient processing. The findings suggest short-term meditation may be a beneficial mental training method for the elderly.

Study at a glance

Abstract

The beneficial effects of meditation on preserving age-related changes in cognitive functioning are well established. Yet, the neural underpinnings of these positive effects have not been fully unveiled. This study employed a prospective longitudinal design, and graph-based analysis, to study how an eight-week meditation training vs. relaxation training shaped network configuration at global, intermediate, and local levels using graph theory in the elderly. At the intermediate level, meditation training lead to decreased intra-connectivity in the default mode network (DMN), salience network (SAN) and somatomotor network (SMN) modules post training. Also, there was decreased connectivity strength between the DMN and other modules. At a local level, meditation training lowered nodal strength in the left posterior cingulate gryus, bilateral paracentral lobule, and middle cingulate gyrus. According to previous literature, the direction of these changes is consistent with a movement towards a more self-detached viewpoint, as well as more efficient processing. Furthermore, our findings highlight the importance of considering brain network changes across organizational levels, as well as the pace at which these changes may occur. Overall, this study provides further support for short-term meditation as a potentially beneficial method of mental training for the elderly that warrants further investigation.