Interaction between Neuroanatomical and Psychological Changes after Mindfulness-Based Training

Abstract

Several cross-sectional studies have documented neuroanatomical changes in individuals with a long history of meditation, while a few evidences are available about the interaction between neuroanatomical and psychological changes even during brief exposure to meditation. Here we analyzed several morphometric indexes at both cortical and subcortical brain level, as well as multiple psychological dimensions, before and after a brief -8 weeks- Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) training program, in a group of 23 meditation naïve-subjects compared to age-gender matched subjects. We found a significant cortical thickness increase in the right insula and the somatosensory cortex of MBSR trainees, coupled with a significant reduction of several psychological indices related to worry, state anxiety, depression and alexithymia. Most importantly, an interesting correlation between the increase in right insula thickness and the decrease in alexithymia levels during the MBSR training were observed. Moreover, a multivariate pattern classification approach allowed to identify a cluster of regions more responsive to MBSR training across subjects. Taken together, these findings documented the significant impact of a brief MBSR training on brain structures, as well as stressing the idea of MBSR as a valuable tool for alexithymia modulation, also originally providing a plausible neurobiological evidence of a major role of right insula into mediating the observed psychological changes.

Effects of mindfulness-based interventions on alexithymia: a systematic review

“…In fact, the only one of the four studies included in this review to measure trait mindfulness37 reported no significant change in mindfulness as a result of the intervention, a surprising finding that runs counter to other evidence 24. The authors attribute this result to the use of the MAAS 39.…”

“…Two studies compared mindfulness-based interventions based on the MBSR programme, delivered over 8 weeks37 and 10 weeks,36 with wait-list. A third study tested a bespoke mindfulness-based programme of contemplative mental training delivered in three different 3-month modules 35.…”

“…Other variables measured are described in table 1. Only one study37 measured mindfulness, using the Mindful Attention Awareness Scale (MAAS) 39…”

“…Alexithymia (awareness of emotional experience) has been found to be strongly related to interoception (awareness of bodily experience)40 and improvement in alexithymia symptoms has been associated with increased heartbeat perception accuracy 35. Furthermore, Santarnecchi et al 37 reported a significant correlation between the decrease in alexithymia and an increase in right insula thickness, an area of the brain, which is involved in both emotional and bodily awareness 41. Interestingly, however, Bornemann and Singer35 found that the significant correlation between the decrease in alexithymia and increased heartbeat awareness was only observed among those who had taken part in the Presence training module and not among those who had taken the Affect training module.…”

Mindfulness-based treatments for posttraumatic stress disorder: a review of the treatment literature and neurobiological evidence

“…In addition, greater insular thickness has been noted among meditators, 73 and a course of MBSR was associated with increased insular thickness and reduced alexithymia in meditation-naive individuals. 74 Thus, via restoration of insular functioning, mindfulness-based approaches may be beneficial in improving body awareness and awareness of emotions, abilities that are often compromised in those with PTSD [75][76][77] and are associated with emotional overmodulation. 7,63 Emerging work has also noted neurobiological changes following a course of mindfulness-based exposure therapy (MBET) among individuals with PTSD.…”