Mindfulness related changes in grey matter: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

Pernet, Cyril; Below, Nikolai; Delorme, Arnaud; Zammit, Alison

doi:10.1101/2020.03.31.20049510

Cited by 5 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 59 publications

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“…In recent years, research has shown that contemplative mental training programs can be efficient in stress reduction (e.g. (3)(4)(5); for a meta-analysis see ( 6)), while simultaneously inducing brain plasticity (7)(8)(9). It is, however, still unclear which types of mental practices most effectively reduce stress and induce stress-related brain plasticity.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Differential increase of hippocampal subfield volume after socio-affective mental training relates to reductions in diurnal cortisol

Valk

Engert

Puhlmann

et al. 2024

eLife

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The hippocampus forms a central modulator of the HPA-axis, impacting the regulation of stress on brain structure, function, and behavior. The current study assessed whether three different types of 3-months mental training modules geared towards nurturing a) attention-based mindfulness, b) socio-affective skills, or c) socio-cognitive abilities may impact hippocampal integrity by reducing stress. We evaluated mental training-induced changes in hippocampal subfield volume and intrinsic functional connectivity, based on resting-state fMRI connectivity analysis in a group of healthy adults (N=332). We then related these changes to changes in diurnal and chronic cortisol levels. We observed increases in bilateral cornu ammonis volume (CA1-3) following the 3-months compassion-based module targeting socio-affective skills (Affect module), as compared to socio-cognitive skills (Perspective module) or a waitlist cohort that did not undergo an intervention. Structural changes were paralleled by increases in functional connectivity of CA1-3 when fostering socio-affective as compared to socio-cognitive skills. Moreover, training-related changes in CA1-3 structure and function consistently correlated with reduction in cortisol output. In sum, we provide a link between socio-emotional behavioral intervention, CA1-3 structure and function, and cortisol reductions in healthy adults.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Differential increase of hippocampal subfield volume after socio-affective mental training relates to reductions in diurnal cortisol

Valk

Engert

Puhlmann

et al. 2024

eLife

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Only few previous studies have addressed longitudinal mental training effects in the domain of social cognition. While these have generally suggested changes in behaviour and MRIbased measures of brain structure and function (Pernet et al, 2021;Tang et al, 2015), sample sizes were relatively modest and training intervals short. Moreover, few studies have compared different practices or focussed on different social skills specifically.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Functional and microstructural plasticity following social and interoceptive mental training

Valk

Kanske

Park

et al. 2020

Preprint

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SUMMARYSocial skills such as our abilities to understand feelings and thoughts are at the core of what makes us human. Here, we combined a unique longitudinal intervention study with cutting-edge connectomics to study the organization and plasticity of brain networks associated with different social skills (socio-affective, socio-cognitive, and attention-mindfulness). Baseline analysis in our cohort (n=332) showed that social brain networks have (i) compact and dissociable signatures in a low-dimensional manifold governed by gradients of brain connectivity, (ii) specific neurobiological underpinnings, and (iii) reflect inter-individual variations in social behavior. Furthermore, longitudinal brain network analyses following a 9-month training intervention indicated (iv) domain-specific reorganization of these signatures that was furthermore predictive of behavioral change in social functions. Multiple sensitivity analyses supported robustness. Our findings, thus, provide novel evidence on macroscale network organization and plasticity underlying human social cognition and behavior, and suggest connectome-reconfigurations as a mechanism of adult skill learning.

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Trait and state mindfulness modulate EEG microstates

Zarka

Cevallos

Ruiz

et al. 2021

Preprint

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Here, we aimed to characterized microstate dynamics induced by open-monitoring meditation (OM), which emphasizes a non-reactive stance toward lived experience, while participants were passively exposed to auditory stimuli. We recorded EEG signals from eighteen trained meditators before, during, and after an OM, that we compared to a matched control group at rest. To characterize brain state, we used a multidimensional-based analysis including source localization EEG microstates, phenomenological reports and personality trait questionnaires. We showed that microstate A was negatively correlated with mindfulness trait and decreased in frequency after OM compared to before in meditators. Microstate B was longer and was positively correlated to non-reactivity trait after OM in the meditator group. Microstate C was less frequent and shorter at rest before OM in meditators compared to non-meditators, and decreased in frequency after OM in meditators. Further, the occurrence of microstate C was negatively correlated to non-reactivity trait of meditators. Source localization analysis revealed that the mindfulness trait effect on microstate C at rest was explained by lower activity of the salience network (identified in the anterior cingulate cortex, thalamus and insula), while the mindfulness state effect relied on a strong contribution of (anterior and posterior) cerebellum during OM. While the decreased microstate A occurrence would be related to the mitigation of phonological aspect of thinking processes, the decrease of microstate C occurrence would represent an index of the cognitive defusion enabled by non-reactive monitoring underlying mindfulness meditation, for which the cerebellum appears to play a crucial role.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENTWhile benefit of mindfulness meditations are extensively documented in wide range of scientific field, their neural mechanisms remain difficult to catch. Here, we characterize EEG microstate dynamics induced by open-monitoring meditation (OM) triangulated by multimodal approach including source localization, phenomenological reports and personality trait questionnaires. We found that temporal parameters of microstates related to phonological processes and mind wandering are negatively correlated to mindfulness trait and are modulated by OM. Source localization analysis revealed that the trait effect at rest was explained by lower activity of the salience network, while the state effect relied on a strong contribution of the cerebellum during OM. These findings suggested that EEG microstates could represent biomarkers of the cognitive effects of mindfulness.

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Mindfulness related changes in grey matter: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

Cited by 5 publications

References 59 publications

Differential increase of hippocampal subfield volume after socio-affective mental training relates to reductions in diurnal cortisol

Differential increase of hippocampal subfield volume after socio-affective mental training relates to reductions in diurnal cortisol

Functional and microstructural plasticity following social and interoceptive mental training

Trait and state mindfulness modulate EEG microstates

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