Mindfulness is associated with intrinsic functional connectivity between default mode and salience networks

Mindfulness, defined as nonjudgmental attention to the present moment, is linked to synchronized ongoing activity between the default mode and salience networks in the brain. After two weeks of daily 20-minute attention-to-breath training, healthy participants completed mindfulness questionnaires and resting-state functional MRI. Analysis revealed that intrinsic functional connectivity between subnetworks of the default mode and salience networks—and at a trend level between the salience and left central executive networks—correlated with mindfulness scores. Additional control analyses supported the specificity of these findings. The results suggest that ongoing interactions among core brain networks relate to the ability to attend to current experience without judgment.

Study at a glance

Abstract

Mindfulness is attention to present moment experience without judgment. Mindfulness practice is associated with brain activity in areas overlapping with the default mode, salience, and central executive networks (DMN, SN, CEN). We hypothesized that intrinsic functional connectivity (iFC; i.e., synchronized ongoing activity) across these networks is associated with mindfulness scores. After 2 weeks of daily 20 min attention to breath training, healthy participants were assessed by mindfulness questionnaires and resting-state functional MRI. Independent component analysis (ICA) of imaging data revealed networks of interest, whose activity time series defined inter-network intrinsic functional connectivity (inter-iFC) by temporal correlation. Inter-iFC between subnetworks of the DMN and SN-and inter-iFC between subnetworks of the SN and left CEN at trend-was correlated with mindfulness scores. Additional control analyses about visual networks' inter-iFC support the specificity of our findings. Results provide evidence that mindfulness is associated with iFC between DMN and SN. Data suggest that ongoing interactions among central intrinsic brain networks link with the ability to attend to current experience without judgment.