Fluid intelligence and brain functional organization in aging yoga and meditation practitioners
Tim Gard, Tim eGard, Maxime eTaquet, Rohan eDixit, Britta Karen Hoelzel, Yves-Alexandre Ede Montjoye, Narayan eBrach, David eSalat, Bradford C Dickerson, Jeremy R. Gray, Sara W. Lazar
DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) April 1, 2014 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2014.00076 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Observational cohort Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Population | Middle-aged yoga and meditation practitioners and matched controls |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Keywords | Psychological resilience Resting State FMRI Cognition Brain function Clinical psychology Psychotherapist |
| Citations | 104 |
| Key findings | Fluid intelligence declined slower in yoga practitioners and meditators combined than in controls, and their resting state functional networks were more integrated and resilient. |
Abstract
Numerous studies have documented the normal age-related decline of neural structure, function, and cognitive performance. Preliminary evidence suggests that meditation may reduce decline in specific cognitive domains and in brain structure. Here we extended this research by investigating the relation between age and fluid intelligence and resting state brain functional network architecture using graph theory, in middle-aged yoga and meditation practitioners, and matched controls. Fluid intelligence declined slower in yoga practitioners and meditators combined than in controls. Resting state functional networks of yoga practitioners and meditators combined were more integrated and more resilient to damage than those of controls. Furthermore, mindfulness was positively correlated with fluid intelligence, resilience, and global network efficiency. These findings reveal the possibility to increase resilience and to slow the decline of fluid intelligence and brain functional architecture and suggest that mindfulness plays a mechanistic role in this preservation.