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.
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 25
- Contemplating Mindfulness at Work Journal of Management November 19, 2015
- The Neural Mechanisms of Meditative Practices: Novel Approaches for Healthy Aging Current behavioral neuroscience reports October 18, 2016
- Greater Anteroposterior Default Mode Network Functional Connectivity in Long-Term Elderly Yoga Practitioners Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience July 2, 2019
- Effect of Heartfulness Meditation Among Long-Term, Short-Term and Non-meditators on Prefrontal Cortex Activity of Brain Using Machine Learning Classification: A Cross-Sectional Study Cureus February 14, 2023
- The neural and psychological mechanisms of yoga and mindfulness meditation 2015
and 20 more in the library