Neural correlates of mindful disengagement from worry.
Ceci Westbrook, Janine M. Dutcher, Susan Kusmierski, J. David Creswell, Essang Akpan, Lauren S. Hallion
Journal of Psychopathology and Clinical Science January 1, 2023 DOI: 10.1037/abn0000804 (opens in new tab) via OpenAlex
Summary
AI-generated from the abstractUncontrollable worry is a core feature of generalized anxiety disorder and other mental health conditions. Mindfulness-based strategies can help reduce worry, but it is unclear which specific techniques work best and how they affect the brain. In a study of 40 participants with clinically significant worry, functional magnetic resonance imaging was used while they engaged in real-time worry and then tried to disengage using two mindfulness strategies (focused attention, acceptance) and one comparison strategy (suppression). All disengagement strategies reduced activity in the default mode network and increased activity in frontoparietal and salience networks, indicating shared mechanisms.
Study at a glance
| Characteristics | Within-subjects experimental design with functional magnetic resonance imaging Preregistered Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 40 |
| Population | Participants with clinically significant worry |
| Interventions | focused attention acceptance suppression |
| Topics | Anxiety Default mode network Meditation |
| Keywords | Worry Disengagement theory Ventrolateral prefrontal cortex |
| Citations | 7 |
| Key finding | All disengagement strategies downregulated default mode and upregulated frontoparietal and salience networks, but focused attention was most effective for promoting disengagement and elicited decreased activity in cognitive control and sensorimotor regions. |
Abstract
Uncontrollable worry is a hallmark of generalized anxiety disorder and a transdiagnostic feature of psychopathology. Mindfulness-based strategies show promise for treating worry, but it is unknown which specific strategies are most beneficial, and how these skills might operate on a neurobiological level. We recruited 40 participants with clinically significant worry to undergo functional magnetic resonance imaging while engaging in real-time, idiographic worry and instructed disengagement using two mindfulness strategies (focused attention, acceptance) and one comparison strategy (suppression). Hypotheses were preregistered and partially supported. All disengagement strategies downregulated default mode and upregulated frontoparietal and salience networks, suggesting some shared mechanisms. Focused attention was most effective for promoting disengagement and elicited decreased activity in cognitive control and sensorimotor regions. Successful disengagement was associated with increased activity in rostrolateral prefrontal cortex and functional connectivity between posterior cingulate and primary somatosensory cortex. Findings support the role of cognitive control and somatosensory networks in disengagement from worry and suggest common and distinct mechanisms of disengagement, with focused attention a particularly promising strategy. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved).