Does the MRI/fMRI Procedure Itself Confound the Results of Meditation Research? An Evaluation of Subjective and Neurophysiological Measures of TM Practitioners in a Simulated MRI Environment

Travis, Frederick; Nash, Jonathan D.; Parim, Niyazi; Cohen, Brian D.

doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2020.00728

Cited by 6 publications

(5 citation statements)

References 36 publications

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“…The noise aspect is particularly troublesome for studying self-transcendence because it can be difficult to get into this state when a giant, loud machine is distracting the participant. A study with transcendental meditators showed that the noise from fMRI strongly influenced both subjective and neurophysiological responses during meditation practice, calling into question the fMRI results (Travis et al, 2020 ). There is no agreed-upon average value for fMRI reliability.…”

Section: Results: Research/evaluation Methods For Investigating Sementioning

confidence: 99%

A Review on Research and Evaluation Methods for Investigating Self-Transcendence

et al. 2020

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Self-transcendence has been characterized as a decrease in self-saliency (ego disillusionment) and increased connection, and has been growing in research interest in the past decade. Several measures have been developed and published with some degree of psychometric validity and reliability. However, to date, there has been no review systematically describing, contrasting, and evaluating the different methodological approaches toward measuring self-transcendence including questionnaires, neurological and physiological measures, and qualitative methods. To address this gap, we conducted a review to describe existing methods of measuring self-transcendence, evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of these methods, and discuss research avenues to advance assessment of self-transcendence, including recommendations for suitability of methods given research contexts.

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Section: Results: Research/evaluation Methods For Investigating Sementioning

confidence: 99%

A Review on Research and Evaluation Methods for Investigating Self-Transcendence

et al. 2020

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…These techniques either need a nonferromagnet environment or quiet operation space, which brings difficulties to patient scanning using traditional brain imaging techniques, such as fMRI. 44,154 Also, with a balanced temporal and spatial resolution, fNIRS combined with the AI algorithms provide potential means to detect patients' pain in real-time objectively. 37,54,119 fNIRS-AI-based pain detection originates from the concept of braincomputer interface.…”

Section: Future Directions For Functional Near-infrared Spectroscopy ...mentioning

confidence: 99%

Shedding light on pain for the clinic: a comprehensive review of using functional near-infrared spectroscopy to monitor its process in the brain

Nascimento²,

DaSilva³

2021

PAIN

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Pain is a complex experience that involves sensation, emotion, and cognition. The subjectivity of the traditional pain measurement tools has expedited the interest in developing neuroimaging techniques to monitor pain objectively. Among noninvasive neuroimaging techniques, functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) has balanced spatial and temporal resolution; yet, it is portable, quiet, and cost-effective. These features enable fNIRS to image the cortical mechanisms of pain in a clinical environment. In this article, we evaluated pain neuroimaging studies that used the fNIRS technique in the past decade. Starting from the experimental design, we reviewed the regions of interest, probe localization, data processing, and primary findings of these existing fNIRS studies. We also discussed the fNIRS imaging's potential as a brain surveillance technique for pain, in combination with artificial intelligence and extended reality techniques. We concluded that fNIRS is a brain imaging technique with great potential for objective pain assessment in the clinical environment.

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“…However, the diversity across sites did seem to provide some internal replications to support the robustness of the findings, which followed a generally consistent pattern between cohorts. Finally, biometric data were not included in this analysis, although the use of such measures, particularly those identified in prior research on the health benefits of contemplative practices, such as markers of immune system function [ 20 , 86 ], salivary cortisol, heart rate, heart rate variability [ 87 ], blood pressure [ 36 ], electroencephalogram (EEG) [ 88 ], and MRI and fMRI [ 89 ], would strengthen future investigations.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Contemplative Practices Behavior Is Positively Associated with Well-Being in Three Global Multi-Regional Stanford WELL for Life Cohorts

Rich

Chrisinger

Kaimal

et al. 2022

IJERPH

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Positive associations between well-being and a single contemplative practice (e.g., mindfulness meditation) are well documented, yet prior work may have underestimated the strength of the association by omitting consideration of multiple and/or alternative contemplative practices. Moreover, little is known about how contemplative practice behavior (CPB) impacts different dimensions of well-being. This study investigates the relationship of CPB, consisting of four discrete practices (embodied somatic-observing, non-reactive mindfulness, self-compassion, and compassion for others), with multiple dimensions of well-being. As with other canonical lifestyle behaviors, multiple contemplative practices can be integrated into one’s daily routine. Thus, it is critical to holistically consider these behaviors, extending them beyond a simple uni-dimensional measure (e.g., daily mindfulness meditation practice). We developed an integrative measure of four types of contemplative practice and found it to be significantly associated with a multi-dimensional measure of well-being. Importantly, our findings were from three large global multi-regional cohorts and compared against better-understood lifestyle behaviors (physical activity). Data were drawn from California/San Francisco Bay Area, (n = 6,442), Hangzhou City (n = 10,268), and New Taipei City (n = 3,033). In all three cohorts, we found statistically significant (p < 0.05) positive associations between CPB and well-being, both overall and with all of the constituent domains of well-being, comparable to or stronger than the relationship with physical activity across most well-being outcomes. These findings provide robust and cross-cultural evidence for a positive association between CPB and well-being, illuminate dimensions of well-being that could be most influenced by CPB, and suggest CPB may be useful to include as part of fundamental lifestyle recommendations for health and well-being.

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Does the MRI/fMRI Procedure Itself Confound the Results of Meditation Research? An Evaluation of Subjective and Neurophysiological Measures of TM Practitioners in a Simulated MRI Environment

Cited by 6 publications

References 36 publications

A Review on Research and Evaluation Methods for Investigating Self-Transcendence

A Review on Research and Evaluation Methods for Investigating Self-Transcendence

Shedding light on pain for the clinic: a comprehensive review of using functional near-infrared spectroscopy to monitor its process in the brain

Contemplative Practices Behavior Is Positively Associated with Well-Being in Three Global Multi-Regional Stanford WELL for Life Cohorts

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