Short-term meditation increases network efficiency of the anterior cingulate cortex.
Shaowei Xue, Yi-Yuan Tang, Michael I Posner
Neuroreport August 24, 2011 DOI: 10.1097/wnr.0b013e328348c750 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Intervention study (pre-post with control group) Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Interventions | Integrative body-mind training (IBMT) Relaxation training |
| Dose | 11 h |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Key points | After 11 hours of IBMT, network efficiency and connectivity of the anterior cingulate cortex increased significantly, but not after relaxation training, suggesting IBMT may enhance self-regulation by altering brain network topology. |
Abstract
Previous studies have found that short-term integrative body-mind training (IBMT) has positive effects on the brain structure and function in the anterior cingulate cortex. Here, we determined whether 11 h of IBMT alters topological properties of the anterior cingulate cortex in brain functional networks. We applied network analysis to resting-state functional connectivity between 90 cortical and subcortical regions before and after IBMT and relaxation training. The results demonstrated a significant increase in the network efficiency and connectivity of the anterior cingulate cortex after IBMT, but not after relaxation training. These findings indicated that the change in network topology might occur by altering the brain or psychological state. IBMT might be an intervention tool for improvement of self-regulation.
Comparable studies
Other non-randomized and open-label trials on meditation, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction in Relation to Quality of Life, Mood, Symptoms of Stress, and Immune Parameters in Breast and Prostate Cancer Outpatients Early-stage breast and prostate cancer patients | 2003 | Pre-post intervention study | n = 59 |
| Exploring self‐compassion and empathy in the context of mindfulness‐based stress reduction (MBSR) Community sample | 2010 | Pre-post intervention study | |
| Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Lowers Psychological Distress In Medical Students Second-year medical students | 2003 | Prospective nonrandomized cohort-controlled study | n = 302 |
| Intensive meditation training, immune cell telomerase activity, and psychological mediators. Retreat participants and matched controls | 2011 | Controlled trial with wait-list control group | n = 60 |
| The Effectiveness of Mindfulness Training for Children with ADHD and Mindful Parenting for their Parents Children aged 8-12 with ADHD and their parents | 2011 | Within-group waitlist controlled trial | n = 22 |
Citations in the library
Cited by 35
- Effects of Meditation Experience on Functional Connectivity of Distributed Brain Networks Frontiers in Human Neuroscience 2012
- Breath of Life: The Respiratory Vagal Stimulation Model of Contemplative Activity Frontiers in Human Neuroscience October 9, 2018
- Focused attention, open monitoring and loving kindness meditation: effects on attention, conflict monitoring, and creativity – A review Frontiers in Psychology September 23, 2014
- Psilocybin-assisted mindfulness training modulates self-consciousness and brain default mode network connectivity with lasting effects. Neuroimage August 1, 2019
- Mindfulness meditation training alters stress-related amygdala resting state functional connectivity: a randomized controlled trial Social Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience June 5, 2015
and 30 more in the library
Cites 10
- Meditation experience is associated with increased cortical thickness Neuroreport November 7, 2005
- Short-term meditation training improves attention and self-regulation Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences October 11, 2007
- Increased default mode network connectivity associated with meditation Neuroscience Letters October 28, 2010
- Short-term meditation induces white matter changes in the anterior cingulate. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences August 31, 2010
- The neurobiology of Meditation and its clinical effectiveness in psychiatric disorders. Biological Psychology September 2009
and 5 more in the library