There Is More to Mindfulness Than Emotion Regulation: A Study on Brain Structural Networks

Abstract

Dispositional mindfulness and emotion regulation are two psychological constructs closely interrelated, and both appear to improve with the long-term practice of mindfulness meditation. These constructs appear to be related to subcortical, prefrontal, and posterior brain areas involved in emotional processing, cognitive control, self-awareness, and mind wandering. However, no studies have yet discerned the neural basis of dispositional mindfulness that are minimally associated with emotion regulation. In the present study, we use a novel brain structural network analysis approach to study the relationship between structural networks and dispositional mindfulness, measured with two different and widely used instruments [Mindfulness Attention Awareness Scale (MAAS) and Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire (FFMQ)], taking into account the effect of emotion regulation difficulties. We observed a number of different brain regions associated with the different scales and dimensions. The total score of FFMQ and MAAS overlap with the bilateral parahippocampal and fusiform gyri. Additionally, MAAS scores were related to the bilateral hippocampus and the FFMQ total score to the right insula and bilateral amygdala. These results indicate that, depending on the instrument used, the characteristics measured could differ and could also involve different brain systems. However, it seems that brain areas related to emotional reactivity and semantic processing are generally related to Dispositional or trait mindfulness (DM), regardless of the instrument used.

Decoding reappraisal and suppression from neural circuits: A combined supervised and unsupervised machine learning approach

“…Self-report questionnaires were used, and biases in these types of assessments due to the lack of awareness might have affected the results. Also, whereas the sample size of our study is in line with the recent literature focusing on similar issues in terms of structural neuroimaging data (Picó-Pérez et al, 2019;Baltruschat et al, 2021), it is smaller compared to investigations focusing on behavioural and psychological measures and predictors (Martin and Dahlen, 2005;Andrei et al, 2016;Nozaki, 2018). This warrants some caution when interpreting the individual differences at the level of psychological dimensions.…”

Associations between Leisure Preferences, Mindfulness, Psychological Capital, and Life Satisfaction

“…Mindfulness has recently been extensively researched in various contexts, including its impact on improving academic performance [ 66 ], reducing anxiety symptoms [ 67 ] or stress [ 68 ], boosting immunity [ 9 ], improving heart rate variability or decreasing burnout [ 69 ], links to structural brain networks [ 70 ]. Mindfulness was also linked to social sustainability [ 71 ], work engagement [ 72 ], inhibiting malicious envy [ 73 ], or higher psychological capital [ 74 ].…”

Alterations in cerebral glucose metabolism measured by FDG PET in subjects performing a meditation practice based on clitoral stimulation

“…As with other meditation practices that evoke strong emotional changes or affect emotional regulation, the OM practice appears to be associated with altered insula activity supporting the notion that it functions as a meditation practice. 40 The precuneus is often linked to self-awareness and self-consciousness as part of its role in the DMN. 41 It has also been strongly linked to meditation practices and thus, is similarly affected during OM.…”