Short-term meditation increases blood flow in anterior cingulate cortex and insula.
Yi-Yuan Tang, Qilin Lu, Hongbo Feng, Rongxiang Tang, Michael I Posner
Frontiers in Psychology January 1, 2015 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2015.00212 (opens in new tab) via PubMed
Summary
AI-generated from the abstractFive days of integrative body-mind training (IBMT, 30 minutes per day) significantly increased cerebral blood flow in the subgenual/ventral anterior cingulate cortex, medial prefrontal cortex, and insula. Both IBMT and relaxation training increased left-lateralized cerebral blood flow, but only IBMT improved blood flow in the left anterior cingulate cortex and insula, brain regions important for self-regulation. These changes are associated with improved positive mood and frontal asymmetry.
Study at a glance
| Characteristics | Randomized controlled trial Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Population | Healthy adults |
| Interventions | Integrative body-mind training Relaxation training |
| Dose | 30-min per day |
| Duration | 5 days |
| Keywords | Anterior cingulate cortex Cerebral blood flow Frontal asymmetry Integrative body–mind training Positive mood |
| Key finding | Short-term IBMT enhances cerebral blood flow in left anterior cingulate cortex and insula, and induces frontal asymmetry associated with improved positive mood. |
Abstract
Asymmetry in frontal electrical activity has been reported to be associated with positive mood. One form of mindfulness meditation, integrative body-mind training (IBMT) improves positive mood and neuroplasticity. The purpose of this study is to determine whether short-term IBMT improves mood and induces frontal asymmetry. This study showed that 5-days (30-min per day) IBMT significantly enhanced cerebral blood flow (CBF) in subgenual/adjacent ventral anterior cingulate cortex (ACC), medial prefrontal cortex and insula. The results showed that both IBMT and relaxation training increased left laterality of CBF, but only IBMT improved CBF in left ACC and insula, critical brain areas in self-regulation.