Changes in white matter in mice resulting from low-frequency brain stimulation.
Denise M Piscopo, Aldis P Weible, Mary K Rothbart, Michael I Posner, Cristopher M. Niell
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences July 3, 2018 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1802160115 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Preclinical experimental study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Population | Mice |
| Intervention | Optogenetic stimulation |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Keywords | Anterior cingulate cortex Electron microscopy Mouse Myelination |
| Key findings | Low-frequency optogenetic stimulation (1-8 Hz) of the anterior cingulate cortex in mice increased oligodendrocyte proliferation and decreased the g-ratio in the underlying corpus callosum, suggesting activity-dependent myelin remodeling that may enhance connectivity and alter behavior. |
Abstract
Recent reports have begun to elucidate mechanisms by which learning and experience produce white matter changes in the brain. We previously reported changes in white matter surrounding the anterior cingulate cortex in humans after 2-4 weeks of meditation training. We further found that low-frequency optogenetic stimulation of the anterior cingulate in mice increased time spent in the light in a light/dark box paradigm, suggesting decreased anxiety similar to what is observed following meditation training. Here, we investigated the impact of this stimulation at the cellular level. We found that laser stimulation in the range of 1-8 Hz results in changes to subcortical white matter projection fibers in the corpus callosum. Specifically, stimulation resulted in increased oligodendrocyte proliferation, accompanied by a decrease in the g-ratio within the corpus callosum underlying the anterior cingulate cortex. These results suggest that low-frequency stimulation can result in activity-dependent remodeling of myelin, giving rise to enhanced connectivity and altered behavior.
Comparable studies
Other preclinical and animal studies on meditation, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Meditation, Not Information? A Survey Experiment Probing the Effects of Meditation Practice on Affective Polarization and Pro-Environmentalism US adults surveyed online, including self-identified Republicans and Democrats | 2025 | Preregistered survey experiment | n = 500 |
| Korean meditation music suppressed relapse to methamphetamine in rats. Male Sprague-Dawley rats self-administering methamphetamine | 2019 | Preclinical animal study | |
| Modeling the Effects of Yoga on the Progression of Alzheimer's Disease in a Dish. Cultured basal forebrain cholinergic neurons exposed to oligomeric amyloid beta (OAβI-42) | 2018 | In vitro study | |
| Rhythmic brain stimulation reduces anxiety-related behavior in a mouse model based on meditation training. Mice | 2017 | Randomized controlled trial |
Citations in the library
Cited by 5
- Endogenous theta stimulation during meditation predicts reduced opioid dosing following treatment with Mindfulness-Oriented Recovery Enhancement. Neuropsychopharmacology September 12, 2020
- The Quantum Character of Perception: The Probabilistic and Reversible Thermodynamic Cycle can Produce Spin-like Attitudes, Thinking, and Behavior December 30, 2022
- The thermodynamics of cognition: A mathematical treatment. Computational and Structural Biotechnology Journal January 12, 2021
- Rehabilitating the brain through meditation and electrical stimulation. Cortex 2020
- Frontal theta activity and white matter plasticity following mindfulness meditation Current Opinion in Psychology April 18, 2019
Cites 4
- Short-term meditation training improves attention and self-regulation Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences October 11, 2007
- Rhythmic brain stimulation reduces anxiety-related behavior in a mouse model based on meditation training. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences March 7, 2017
- Mechanisms of white matter changes induced by meditation. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences June 26, 2012
- Short-term meditation induces white matter changes in the anterior cingulate. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences August 31, 2010