Brain imaging analysis can identify participants under regular mental training.
João R. Sato, Elisa H. Kozasa, Tamara A Russell, João Radvany, Luiz E. A. M. Mello, Shirley S Lacerda, Edson Amaro
PLoS One July 3, 2012 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0039832 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Observational classification study using multivariate pattern recognition on structural MRI data Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 39 |
| Population | 19 regular meditators and 20 non-meditators |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Keywords | Humans Magnetic resonance imaging Brain mapping Adult Middle aged Female Neuroimaging Support vector machine |
| Key findings | Multivariate pattern recognition applied to automated morphometric analysis of structural MRI classified whether a single participant was a regular meditator with 94.87% accuracy (p<0.001). The authors argue this demonstrates that individual mental training status can be inferred from brain structure and may signal a new field of brain imaging applications. |
Abstract
Multivariate pattern recognition approaches have become a prominent tool in neuroimaging data analysis. These methods enable the classification of groups of participants (e.g. controls and patients) on the basis of subtly different patterns across the whole brain. This study demonstrates that these methods can be used, in combination with automated morphometric analysis of structural MRI, to determine with great accuracy whether a single subject has been engaged in regular mental training or not. The proposed approach allowed us to identify with 94.87% accuracy (p<0.001) if a given participant is a regular meditator (from a sample of 19 regular meditators and 20 non-meditators). Neuroimaging has been a relevant tool for diagnosing neurological and psychiatric impairments. This study may suggest a novel step forward: the emergence of a new field in brain imaging applications, in which participants could be identified based on their mental experience.
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 8
- Contemplating Mindfulness at Work Journal of Management November 19, 2015
- Mindfulness meditation increases default mode, salience, and central executive network connectivity Scientific Reports August 2, 2022
- Neuroplasticity within and between Functional Brain Networks in Mental Training Based on Long-Term Meditation. Brain Sciences August 18, 2021
- A systematic review and activation likelihood estimation meta-analysis of fMRI studies on arousing or wake-promoting effects in Buddhist meditation Frontiers in Psychology October 27, 2023
- Can mindfulness meditation alter consciousness? An integrative interpretation bioRxiv Preprint Server August 13, 2015
and 3 more in the library
Cites 6
- The benefits of being present: Mindfulness and its role in psychological well-being. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology 2003
- Meditation experience is associated with increased cortical thickness Neuroreport November 7, 2005
- Long-term meditators self-induce high-amplitude gamma synchrony during mental practice Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences November 8, 2004
- Meditation training increases brain efficiency in an attention task. Neuroimage July 7, 2011
- Mindfulness practice leads to increases in regional brain gray matter density Psychiatry Research November 10, 2010
and 1 more in the library