Impact of meditation training on the default mode network during a restful state

Mindfulness meditation has been shown to promote emotional stability. Moreover, during the processing of aversive and self-referential stimuli, mindful awareness is associated with reduced medial prefrontal cortex (MPFC) activity, a central default mode network (DMN) component. However, it remains u...

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Published in:Social cognitive and affective neuroscience 2013-01, Vol.8 (1), p.4-14
Main Authors: Taylor, Véronique A, Daneault, Véronique, Grant, Joshua, Scavone, Geneviève, Breton, Estelle, Roffe-Vidal, Sébastien, Courtemanche, Jérôme, Lavarenne, Anaïs S, Marrelec, Guillaume, Benali, Habib, Beauregard, Mario
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adaptation, Psychological - physiology
Adult
Attention - physiology
Awareness - physiology
Brain Mapping - methods
Cognitive science
Female
Humans
Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Male
Meditation - methods
Middle Aged
Nerve Net - physiology
Neuroscience
Original
Practice (Psychology)
Prefrontal Cortex - physiology
Self Concept
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Summary:Mindfulness meditation has been shown to promote emotional stability. Moreover, during the processing of aversive and self-referential stimuli, mindful awareness is associated with reduced medial prefrontal cortex (MPFC) activity, a central default mode network (DMN) component. However, it remains unclear whether mindfulness practice influences functional connectivity between DMN regions and, if so, whether such impact persists beyond a state of meditation. Consequently, this study examined the effect of extensive mindfulness training on functional connectivity within the DMN during a restful state. Resting-state data were collected from 13 experienced meditators (with over 1000 h of training) and 11 beginner meditators (with no prior experience, trained for 1 week before the study) using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). Pairwise correlations and partial correlations were computed between DMN seed regions' time courses and were compared between groups utilizing a Bayesian sampling scheme. Relative to beginners, experienced meditators had weaker functional connectivity between DMN regions involved in self-referential processing and emotional appraisal. In addition, experienced meditators had increased connectivity between certain DMN regions (e.g. dorso-medial PFC and right inferior parietal lobule), compared to beginner meditators. These findings suggest that meditation training leads to functional connectivity changes between core DMN regions possibly reflecting strengthened present-moment awareness.
ISSN:1749-5016
1749-5024
DOI:10.1093/scan/nsr087