Enhanced amygdala-cortical functional connectivity in meditators.
Mei-Kei Leung, Chetwyn C H Chan, Jing Yin, Chack-Fan Lee, Kwok-Fai So, Tatia M C Lee
Neuroscience Letters March 17, 2015 DOI: 10.1016/j.neulet.2015.01.052 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Observational cohort Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Population | Meditation experts and novices |
| Intervention | Meditation |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Keywords | Amygdala Anterior cingulate cortex Emotions Functional connectivity Mirror neuron |
| Key findings | Meditation experts had significantly stronger left amygdala connectivity with the dorsal ACC, premotor, and primary somatosensory cortices during positive affective processing compared to novices. |
Abstract
Previous studies have demonstrated that meditation is associated with neuroplastic changes in the brain regions including amygdala, anterior cingulate cortex (ACC), and temporal-parietal junction. Extended from these previous works, this study examined the functional connectivity of the amygdala in meditation experts during affective processing and observed that these experts had significantly stronger left amygdala (LA) connectivity with the dorsal ACC (dACC), premotor, and primary somatosensory cortices (PSC) while viewing affectively positive stimuli when compared to the novices. The current findings have implications for further understanding of affective neuroplastic changes associated with meditation in the amygdala.
Comparable studies
Other observational and cohort studies on meditation, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Using Self-Report Assessment Methods to Explore Facets of Mindfulness Undergraduate students | 2006 | Observational cohort | |
| Effectiveness of a meditation-based stress reduction program in the treatment of anxiety disorders Patients with generalized anxiety disorder or panic disorder with or without agoraphobia | 1992 | Observational cohort | n = 22 |
| Meditation experience is associated with increased cortical thickness Participants with extensive Insight meditation experience and matched controls | 2005 | Observational cohort | n = 20 |
| Meditation experience is associated with differences in default mode network activity and connectivity Experienced meditators and matched meditation-naive controls | 2011 | Observational cohort | |
| Long-term meditators self-induce high-amplitude gamma synchrony during mental practice Long-term Buddhist practitioners and controls | 2004 | Observational cohort |
Citations in the library
Cited by 4
- Enhanced amygdala–anterior cingulate white matter structural connectivity in Sahaja Yoga Meditators PLoS One March 28, 2024
- The Benefits of Loving Kindness Meditation for Helping Professionals: A Systematic Review Health & Social Care in the Community October 23, 2023
- Addressing the biological embedding of early life adversities (ELA) among adults through mindfulness: Proposed mechanisms and review of converging evidence. Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews January 5, 2022
- Meditation-induced neuroplastic changes in amygdala activity during negative affective processing. Social Neuroscience June 1, 2018
Cites 6
- Regulation of the Neural Circuitry of Emotion by Compassion Meditation: Effects of Meditative Expertise PLoS One March 25, 2008
- Effects of mindful-attention and compassion meditation training on amygdala response to emotional stimuli in an ordinary, non-meditative state Frontiers in Human Neuroscience 2012
- Distinct Neural Activity Associated with Focused-Attention Meditation and Loving-Kindness Meditation PLoS One August 15, 2012
- Loving‐kindness meditation to enhance recovery from negative symptoms of schizophrenia Journal of Clinical Psychology March 6, 2009
- Effects of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) on Emotion Regulation in Social Anxiety Disorder Emotion February 1, 2010
and 1 more in the library