Dynamic functional connectivity markers of objective trait mindfulness
Julian Lim, James Teng, Amiya Patanaik, Jesisca Tandi, Stijn A. A. Massar
bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory) March 23, 2018 preprint DOI: 10.1101/287540 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Observational study using dynamic functional connectivity analysis of resting-state fMRI |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 39 |
| Population | Individuals selected from the top and bottom tertiles of performers on a breath-counting task, forming high trait mindfulness (N = 21) and low trait mindfulness (N = 18) groups |
| Measures | Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Citations | 5 |
| Key findings | High trait mindfulness individuals spent significantly more time in a brain state associated with task-readiness, characterized by high within-network connectivity and greater anti-correlations between task-positive networks and the default-mode network, and transitioned between brain states more frequently than low trait mindfulness individuals, though dwell time per episode of the task-ready state was equivalent. These differences persisted after controlling for vigilance. Weak correlations between connectivity metrics and self-reported mindfulness did not survive multiple comparisons correction. |
Abstract
Abstract While mindfulness is commonly viewed as a skill to be cultivated through practice, untrained individuals can also vary widely in dispositional mindfulness. Prior research has identified static neural connectivity correlates of this trait. Here, we use dynamic functional connectivity (DFC) analysis of resting-state fMRI to study time-varying connectivity patterns associated with naturally varying and objectively measured trait mindfulness. Participants were selected from the top and bottom tertiles of performers on a breath-counting task to form high trait mindfulness (HTM; N = 21) and low trait mindfulness (LTM; N = 18) groups. DFC analysis of resting state fMRI data revealed that the HTM group spent significantly more time in a brain state associated with task-readiness – a state characterized by high within-network connectivity and greater anti-correlations between task-positive networks and the default-mode network (DMN). The HTM group transitioned between brain states more frequently, but the dwell time in each episode of the task-ready state was equivalent between groups. These results persisted even after controlling for vigilance. Across individuals, certain connectivity metrics were weakly correlated with self-reported mindfulness as measured by the Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire, though these did not survive multiple comparisons correction. In the static connectivity maps, HTM individuals had greater within-network connectivity in the DMN and the salience network, and greater anti-correlations between the DMN and task-positive networks. In sum, DFC features robustly distinguish HTM and LTM individuals, and may be useful biological markers for the measurement of dispositional mindfulness.
Comparable studies
Other experimental studies on meditation, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| The benefits of being present: Mindfulness and its role in psychological well-being. Cancer patients (clinical intervention study) | 2003 | Mixed methods: scale development, correlational, quasi-experimental, laboratory, experience-sampling, and clinical intervention study | |
| Loving-kindness meditation increases social connectedness. | 2008 | Controlled laboratory experiment | |
| Mindfulness and mind-wandering: Finding convergence through opposing constructs. | 2012 | Two studies: correlational study and experimental study | |
| Mental Training Enhances Attentional Stability: Neural and Behavioral Evidence | 2009 | Experimental study | |
| Mindfulness meditation and substance use in an incarcerated population. Incarcerated population | 2006 | Quasi-experimental with treatment-as-usual control condition |
Citations in the library
Cites 29
- The benefits of being present: Mindfulness and its role in psychological well-being. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology 2003
- Mechanisms of mindfulness Journal of Clinical Psychology December 29, 2005
- Construct Validity of the Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire in Meditating and Nonmeditating Samples Assessment February 29, 2008
- Experience sampling during fMRI reveals default network and executive system contributions to mind wandering. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences May 26, 2009
- Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction for Stress Management in Healthy People: A Review and Meta-Analysis The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine May 1, 2009
and 24 more in the library