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Zainal NH, Newman MG. Mindfulness enhances cognitive functioning: a meta-analysis of 111 randomized controlled trials. Health Psychol Rev 2024; 18:369-395. [PMID: 37578065 PMCID: PMC10902202 DOI: 10.1080/17437199.2023.2248222] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2022] [Accepted: 08/09/2023] [Indexed: 08/15/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Currently no comprehensive meta-analysis of MBI efficacy on global and unique cognitive subdomains exist. METHOD Examined the effects of MBIs on global cognition and 15 cognitive subdomains. Inclusion criteria: meditation naïve participants; randomized controlled trial; outcome included one objective or subjective cognitive functioning measure; primary focus was teaching mindfulness skills. Exclusion criteria: inadequate data; one-session ; control condition contained any MBI component. Robust variance estimation and moderator analyses controlling for presence of treatment fidelity were conducted. RESULTS One-hundred-and-eleven RCTs (n = 9,538) met eligibility criteria. MBIs had small-to-moderate significant effects on global cognition, executive attention, working memory accuracy, inhibition accuracy, shifting accuracy, sustained attention, and subjective cognitive functioning (vs. waitlist/no-treatment, g = 0.257-0.643; vs. active controls, g = 0.192-0.394). MBIs did not impact executive functioning (EF) latency indices, verbal fluency, processing speed, episodic memory, and cognitive error. Treatment effects were stronger for those with elevated psychiatric symptoms vs. healthy controls, and medical samples, studies with complete-case (vs. intention-to-treat) analysis, face-to-face (vs. self-guided) delivery, and non-standard (vs. standard MBI). CONCLUSION MBIs consistently yielded small-to-moderate yet practically meaningful effect sizes on global cognition and six cognitive subdomains that captured accuracy vs. latency-based indices of EF and sustained accuracy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nur Hani Zainal
- Department of Health Care Policy, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Psychology, National University of Singapore, Singapore
| | - Michelle G Newman
- Department of Psychology, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA
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2
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Dehghani A, Soltanian-Zadeh H, Hossein-Zadeh GA. Neural modulation enhancement using connectivity-based EEG neurofeedback with simultaneous fMRI for emotion regulation. Neuroimage 2023; 279:120320. [PMID: 37586444 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2023.120320] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2023] [Revised: 08/06/2023] [Accepted: 08/10/2023] [Indexed: 08/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Emotion regulation plays a key role in human behavior and overall well-being. Neurofeedback is a non-invasive self-brain training technique used for emotion regulation to enhance brain function and treatment of mental disorders through behavioral changes. Previous neurofeedback research often focused on using activity from a single brain region as measured by fMRI or power from one or two EEG electrodes. In a new study, we employed connectivity-based EEG neurofeedback through recalling positive autobiographical memories and simultaneous fMRI to upregulate positive emotion. In our novel approach, the feedback was determined by the coherence of EEG electrodes rather than the power of one or two electrodes. We compared the efficiency of this connectivity-based neurofeedback to traditional activity-based neurofeedback through multiple experiments. The results showed that connectivity-based neurofeedback effectively improved BOLD signal change and connectivity in key emotion regulation regions such as the amygdala, thalamus, and insula, and increased EEG frontal asymmetry, which is a biomarker for emotion regulation and treatment of mental disorders such as PTSD, anxiety, and depression and coherence among EEG channels. The psychometric evaluations conducted both before and after the neurofeedback experiments revealed that participants demonstrated improvements in enhancing positive emotions and reducing negative emotions when utilizing connectivity-based neurofeedback, as compared to traditional activity-based and sham neurofeedback approaches. These findings suggest that connectivity-based neurofeedback may be a superior method for regulating emotions and could be a useful alternative therapy for mental disorders, providing individuals with greater control over their brain and mental functions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amin Dehghani
- School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran; Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH, USA.
| | - Hamid Soltanian-Zadeh
- School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran; School of Cognitive Sciences, Institute for Research in Fundamental Sciences (IPM), Tehran, Iran; Departments of Radiology and Research Administration, Henry Ford Health System, Detroit, MI, USA
| | - Gholam-Ali Hossein-Zadeh
- School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran; School of Cognitive Sciences, Institute for Research in Fundamental Sciences (IPM), Tehran, Iran
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3
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Denier N, Soravia LM, Moggi F, Stein M, Grieder M, Federspiel A, Kupper Z, Wiest R, Bracht T. Associations of thalamocortical networks with reduced mindfulness in alcohol use disorder. Front Psychiatry 2023; 14:1123204. [PMID: 37484679 PMCID: PMC10358776 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1123204] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2022] [Accepted: 06/12/2023] [Indexed: 07/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Increased mindfulness is associated with reduced alcohol consumption in patients with alcohol use disorder (AUD) after residential treatment. However, the underlying neurobiological mechanism of mindfulness in AUD is unclear. Therefore, we investigate the structural and functional alterations of the thalamocortical system with a focus on the mediodorsal thalamic nucleus (MD-TN), the default mode and the salience network (DMN/SN) which has previously been associated with mindfulness in healthy subjects. We hypothesized lower mindfulness and reduced structural and functional connectivity (FC) of the thalamocortical system, particularly in the DMN/SN in AUD. We assumed that identified neurobiological alterations in AUD are associated with impairments of mindfulness. Methods Forty-five abstinent patients with AUD during residential treatment and 20 healthy controls (HC) were recruited. Structural and resting-state functional MRI-scans were acquired. We analysed levels of mindfulness, thalamic volumes and network centrality degree of the MD-TN using multivariate statistics. Using seed-based whole brain analyses we investigated functional connectivity (FC) of the MD-TN. We performed exploratory correlational analyses of structural and functional DMN/SN measurements with levels of mindfulness. Results In AUD we found significantly lower levels of mindfulness, lower bilateral thalamic and left MD-TN volumes, reduced FC between MD-TN and anterior cingulum/insula and lower network centrality degree of the left MD-TN as compared to HC. In AUD, lower mindfulness was associated with various reductions of structural and functional aspects of the MD-TN. Conclusion Our results suggest that structural and functional alterations of a network including the MD-TN and the DMN/SN underlies disturbed mindfulness in AUD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Niklaus Denier
- Translational Research Center, University Hospital of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
- Translational Imaging Center (TIC), Swiss Institute for Translational and Entrepreneurial Medicine, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Leila M. Soravia
- Translational Research Center, University Hospital of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
- Translational Imaging Center (TIC), Swiss Institute for Translational and Entrepreneurial Medicine, Bern, Switzerland
- Clinic Suedhang, Kirchlindach, Switzerland
| | - Franz Moggi
- Translational Research Center, University Hospital of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
- Translational Imaging Center (TIC), Swiss Institute for Translational and Entrepreneurial Medicine, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Maria Stein
- Translational Research Center, University Hospital of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
- Department of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Institute of Psychology, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Matthias Grieder
- Translational Research Center, University Hospital of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
- Translational Imaging Center (TIC), Swiss Institute for Translational and Entrepreneurial Medicine, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Andrea Federspiel
- Translational Research Center, University Hospital of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
- Translational Imaging Center (TIC), Swiss Institute for Translational and Entrepreneurial Medicine, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Zeno Kupper
- Translational Research Center, University Hospital of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Roland Wiest
- Translational Imaging Center (TIC), Swiss Institute for Translational and Entrepreneurial Medicine, Bern, Switzerland
- Institute of Diagnostic and Interventional Neuroradiology, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Tobias Bracht
- Translational Research Center, University Hospital of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
- Translational Imaging Center (TIC), Swiss Institute for Translational and Entrepreneurial Medicine, Bern, Switzerland
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4
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Dehghani A, Soltanian-Zadeh H, Hossein-Zadeh GA. Probing fMRI brain connectivity and activity changes during emotion regulation by EEG neurofeedback. Front Hum Neurosci 2023; 16:988890. [PMID: 36684847 PMCID: PMC9853008 DOI: 10.3389/fnhum.2022.988890] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2022] [Accepted: 12/13/2022] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Despite the existence of several emotion regulation studies using neurofeedback, interactions among a small number of regions were evaluated, and therefore, further investigation is needed to understand the interactions of the brain regions involved in emotion regulation. We implemented electroencephalography (EEG) neurofeedback with simultaneous functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) using a modified happiness-inducing task through autobiographical memories to upregulate positive emotion. Then, an explorative analysis of whole brain regions was done to understand the effect of neurofeedback on brain activity and the interaction of whole brain regions involved in emotion regulation. The participants in the control and experimental groups were asked to do emotion regulation while viewing positive images of autobiographical memories and getting sham or real (based on alpha asymmetry) EEG neurofeedback, respectively. The proposed multimodal approach quantified the effects of EEG neurofeedback in changing EEG alpha power, fMRI blood oxygenation level-dependent (BOLD) activity of prefrontal, occipital, parietal, and limbic regions (up to 1.9% increase), and functional connectivity in/between prefrontal, parietal, limbic system, and insula in the experimental group. New connectivity links were identified by comparing the brain functional connectivity between experimental conditions (Upregulation and View blocks) and also by comparing the brain connectivity of the experimental and control groups. Psychometric assessments confirmed significant changes in positive and negative mood states in the experimental group by neurofeedback. Based on the exploratory analysis of activity and connectivity among all brain regions involved in emotion regions, we found significant BOLD and functional connectivity increases due to EEG neurofeedback in the experimental group, but no learning effect was observed in the control group. The results reveal several new connections among brain regions as a result of EEG neurofeedback which can be justified according to emotion regulation models and the role of those regions in emotion regulation and recalling positive autobiographical memories.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amin Dehghani
- School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran,Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH, United States,*Correspondence: Amin Dehghani, ,
| | - Hamid Soltanian-Zadeh
- School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran,Medical Image Analysis Lab, Department of Radiology and Research Administration, Henry Ford Health System, Detroit, MI, United States,School of Cognitive Sciences, Institute for Research in Fundamental Sciences (IPM), Tehran, Iran
| | - Gholam-Ali Hossein-Zadeh
- School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran,School of Cognitive Sciences, Institute for Research in Fundamental Sciences (IPM), Tehran, Iran
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5
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Sung MK, Koh E, Kang Y, Lee JH, Park JY, Kim JY, Shin SY, Kim YH, Setou N, Lee US, Yang HJ. Three months-longitudinal changes in relative telomere length, blood chemistries, and self-report questionnaires in meditation practitioners compared to novice individuals during midlife. Medicine (Baltimore) 2022; 101:e30930. [PMID: 36254044 PMCID: PMC9575785 DOI: 10.1097/md.0000000000030930] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Aging accelerates during midlife. Researches have shown the health benefits of mind-body intervention (MBI). However, whether MBI is involved with aging process has not been well understood. In this study, we approach to examine the relations of MBI with this process by investigating an aging marker of the peripheral blood, blood chemistry, and self-report questionnaires. A quasi-experimental design was applied. Experienced MBI practitioners participated in a 3-month intensive meditation training, while the age, gender-matched MBI-naïve controls led a normal daily life. Measurements were taken at before and after the 3 months for relative telomere length (RTL), blood chemistry, and self-report questionnaires including items about sleep quality, somatic symptoms, depression, anxiety, stress, emotional intelligence (EI), and self-regulation. For RTL, the repeated measures analysis of variance showed a significant group*time interaction (P = .013) with a significant post hoc result (P = .030) within the control group: RTL was significantly reduced in the control while it was maintained in the meditation group. In repeated measures analysis of variance for blood chemistries, there were significant group differences between the groups in glucose and total protein. In the post hoc comparison analysis, at post measurements, the meditation group exhibited significantly lower values than the control group in both glucose and total protein. There were significant group-wise differences in the correlations of RTL with triglyceride (TG), high-density lipoprotein (HDL), glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase and glutamic pyruvic transaminase. Any of self-report results did not show significant changes in group*time interaction. However, there were group differences with significant (P < .05) or a tendency (.05 < P < .1) level. There were significant improvements in depression, stress and EI as well as tendencies of improvement in sleep quality and anxiety, in the meditation group compared to the control group. Our results suggest that meditation practice may have a potential to modify aging process in molecular cellular level combined with changes in psychological dimension.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Eugene Koh
- Temasek Life Sciences Laboratories, Singapore
| | | | - Jin-Hee Lee
- Department of Integrative Health Care, University of Brain Education, Cheonan, Korea
| | - Ji-Yeon Park
- Department of Integrative Health Care, University of Brain Education, Cheonan, Korea
| | - Ji Young Kim
- Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - So-Young Shin
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Korea
| | - Yeon-Hee Kim
- Department of Clinical Nursing, University of Ulsan, Seoul, Korea
| | - Noriko Setou
- Department of Disaster Psychiatry, Fukushima Medical University, Fukushima, Japan
| | - Ul Soon Lee
- Department of Brain Education Convergence, Global Cyber University, Seoul, Korea
| | - Hyun-Jeong Yang
- Korea Institute of Brain Science, Seoul, Korea
- Department of Integrative Health Care, University of Brain Education, Cheonan, Korea
- Department of Integrative Biosciences, University of Brain Education, Cheonan, Korea
- *Correspondence: Hyun-Jeong Yang, Korea Institute of Brain Science, Seoul 06022, Korea (e-mail: )
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6
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Cooper AC, Ventura B, Northoff G. Beyond the veil of duality-topographic reorganization model of meditation. Neurosci Conscious 2022; 2022:niac013. [PMID: 36237370 PMCID: PMC9552929 DOI: 10.1093/nc/niac013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2022] [Revised: 08/08/2022] [Accepted: 09/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Meditation can exert a profound impact on our mental life, with proficient practitioners often reporting an experience free of boundaries between a separate self and the environment, suggesting an explicit experience of "nondual awareness." What are the neural correlates of such experiences and how do they relate to the idea of nondual awareness itself? In order to unravel the effects that meditation has on the brain's spatial topography, we review functional magnetic resonance imaging brain findings from studies specific to an array of meditation types and meditator experience levels. We also review findings from studies that directly probe the interaction between meditation and the experience of the self. The main results are (i) decreased posterior default mode network (DMN) activity, (ii) increased central executive network (CEN) activity, (iii) decreased connectivity within posterior DMN as well as between posterior and anterior DMN, (iv) increased connectivity within the anterior DMN and CEN, and (v) significantly impacted connectivity between the DMN and CEN (likely a nonlinear phenomenon). Together, these suggest a profound organizational shift of the brain's spatial topography in advanced meditators-we therefore propose a topographic reorganization model of meditation (TRoM). One core component of the TRoM is that the topographic reorganization of DMN and CEN is related to a decrease in the mental-self-processing along with a synchronization with the more nondual layers of self-processing, notably interoceptive and exteroceptive-self-processing. This reorganization of the functionality of both brain and self-processing can result in the explicit experience of nondual awareness. In conclusion, this review provides insight into the profound neural effects of advanced meditation and proposes a result-driven unifying model (TRoM) aimed at identifying the inextricably tied objective (neural) and subjective (experiential) effects of meditation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Austin Clinton Cooper
- Integrated Program of Neuroscience, Room 302, Irving Ludmer Building, 1033 Pine Avenue W., McGill University, Montreal, QC H3A 1A1, Canada
| | - Bianca Ventura
- Mind, Brain Imaging and Neuroethics Research Unit, Institute of Mental Health Research, University of Ottawa, 1145 Carling Avenue, Ottawa, ON K1Z 7K4, Canada
| | - Georg Northoff
- Mind, Brain Imaging and Neuroethics Research Unit, Institute of Mental Health Research, University of Ottawa, 1145 Carling Avenue, Ottawa, ON K1Z 7K4, Canada
- Mental Health Center, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, 866 Yuhangtang Road, Hangzhou 310058, China
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Reduced Pain by Mind-Body Intervention Correlates with Improvement of Shoulder Function in People with Shoulder Pain: A Randomized Controlled Trial. EVIDENCE-BASED COMPLEMENTARY AND ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE 2022; 2022:6149052. [PMID: 35368768 PMCID: PMC8970874 DOI: 10.1155/2022/6149052] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2021] [Revised: 01/06/2022] [Accepted: 03/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Meditation and acupressure-like stimulations have been shown to relieve pain. The aim of this study was to determine whether a short bout of mind-body intervention combined with meditation and acupressure-like stimulation was able to alleviate shoulder pain and improve its function in a short time window. Sixty-five adults with shoulder pain were recruited and randomly classified into two groups. One group participated in an intervention which consisted of acupressure-like stimulation and meditation over a 5 min period. The other group was instructed to rest during this time. A visual analog scale (VAS) pain score and objective constant scores were measured before and after intervention to determine shoulder pain and range of motion (ROM), respectively. A two-way repeated measures analysis of variance with Bonferroni correction and a regression analysis were performed. VAS pain, objective constant score, flexion, abduction, and external rotation score showed significant interactions between time and group. The pain intensity was significantly reduced, while flexion and abduction were significantly improved, in the experimental group compared to the control group, after the intervention. In addition, the change of flexion negatively correlated with the change of pain intensity in the experimental group, but not in the control group. These results show that a short-term application of mind-body intervention significantly alleviates shoulder pain and improves shoulder movement, suggesting its potential use as a therapy for people with shoulder pain.
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8
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Pang Y, Zhao S, Li Z, Li N, Yu J, Zhang R, Lu F, Chen H, Wu F, Zheng W, Gao J, Yang Y, Wu H, Wang J. Enduring effect of abuse: Childhood maltreatment links to altered theory of mind network among adults. Hum Brain Mapp 2022; 43:2276-2288. [PMID: 35089635 PMCID: PMC8996351 DOI: 10.1002/hbm.25787] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2021] [Revised: 12/07/2021] [Accepted: 12/20/2021] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Childhood maltreatment (CM) confers a great risk of maladaptive development outcomes later in life, however, the neurobiological mechanism underlying this vulnerability is still unclear. The present study aimed to investigate the long-term consequences of CM on neural connectivity while controlling for psychiatric conditions, medication, and, substance abuse. A sample including adults with (n = 40) and without CM (n = 50) completed Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ), personality questionnaires, and resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging scan were recruited for the current study. The whole-brain functional connectivity (FC) was evaluated using an unbiased, data-driven, multivariate pattern analysis method. Relative to controls, adults with CM suffered a higher level of temperament and impulsivity and showed decreased FC between the insula and superior temporal gyrus (STG) and between inferior parietal lobule (IPL) and middle frontal gyrus, STG, and dorsal anterior cingulate cortex (dACC), while increased FC between IPL and cuneus and superior frontal gyrus (SFG) regions. The FCs of IPL with dACC and SFG were correlated with the anxious and cyclothymic temperament and attentional impulsivity. Moreover, these FCs partially mediated the relationship between CM and attentional impulsivity. Our results suggest that CM has a significant effect on the modulation of FC within theory of mind (ToM) network even decades later in adulthood, and inform a new framework to account for how CM results in the development of impulsivity. The novel findings reveal the neurobiological consequences of CM and provide new clues to the prevention and intervention strategy to reduce the risk of the development of psychopathology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yajing Pang
- School of Electrical Engineering, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Shanshan Zhao
- School of Electrical Engineering, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Zhihui Li
- School of Electrical Engineering, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Nan Li
- School of Electrical Engineering, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Jiarui Yu
- School of Electrical Engineering, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Rui Zhang
- School of Electrical Engineering, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Fengmei Lu
- The Clinical Hospital of Chengdu Brain Science Institute, School of Life Science and Technology, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China
| | - Heng Chen
- School of medicine, Guizhou University, Guiyang, China
| | - Fengchun Wu
- The Affiliated Brain Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University (Guangzhou Huiai Hospital), Guangzhou, China.,Guangdong Engineering Technology Research Center for Translational Medicine of Mental Disorders, Guangzhou, China
| | - Wei Zheng
- The Affiliated Brain Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University (Guangzhou Huiai Hospital), Guangzhou, China.,Guangdong Engineering Technology Research Center for Translational Medicine of Mental Disorders, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jingjing Gao
- School of Information and Communication Engineer, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China
| | - Yongfeng Yang
- Department of Psychiatry, Henan Mental Hospital, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, China.,Henan Key Lab of Biological Psychiatry, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, China.,International Joint Research Laboratory for Psychiatry and Neuroscience of Henan, Xinxiang, China
| | - Huawang Wu
- The Affiliated Brain Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University (Guangzhou Huiai Hospital), Guangzhou, China.,Guangdong Engineering Technology Research Center for Translational Medicine of Mental Disorders, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jiaojian Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Primate Biomedical Research, Institute of Primate Translational Medicine, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, China
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Bryan MA, Mallik D, Cochran G, Lundahl B. Mindfulness and Savoring: A Commentary on Savoring Strategies and Their Implications for Addiction Treatment. Subst Use Misuse 2022; 57:822-826. [PMID: 35349380 DOI: 10.1080/10826084.2022.2046090] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
Background: A central facet of the popular understanding of mindfulness practice is the non-judgmental observation of all thoughts and feelings. Savoring is a cognitive practice developed out of economics and positive psychology, which involves the conscious mental engagement with positively-valenced interoceptive and exteroceptive stimuli, which in turn amplifies the derived pleasure experience. Results: When incorporated into mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs), savoring holds promise in improving outcomes related to reward processing, such as positive affect and well-being. The growing body of mindfulness literature also suggests that the inclusion of savoring in MBIs may be key in treating disorders of reward dysregulation, such as addiction. If savoring does indeed reduce craving, this phenomenon offers a point of union for divergent neurobiological theories of addiction. Conclusion: In this commentary, we explore the existing literature on savoring and mindfulness practices as it relates to addictive disorders, posit underlying neurocognitive mechanisms, and present future areas of research.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Aryana Bryan
- Program for Addiction Research, Clinical Care, Education, and Advocacy, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
| | - Debesh Mallik
- School of Graduate Psychology, Pacific University, Hillsboro, Oregon, USA
| | - Gerald Cochran
- Program for Addiction Research, Clinical Care, Education, and Advocacy, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
| | - Brad Lundahl
- College of Social Work, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
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10
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Newberg AB, Wintering NA, Hriso C, Vedaei F, Stoner M, Ross R. Alterations in Functional Connectivity Measured by Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging and the Relationship With Heart Rate Variability in Subjects After Performing Orgasmic Meditation: An Exploratory Study. Front Psychol 2021; 12:708973. [PMID: 34858249 PMCID: PMC8631761 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2021.708973] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2021] [Accepted: 10/15/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: We measured changes in resting brain functional connectivity, with blood oxygen level dependent (BOLD) functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), associated with a creative meditation practice that is augmented by clitoral stimulation and is designed to not only achieve a spiritual experience but to help individuals manage their most intimate personal relationships. Briefly, the meditative state is attained by both the male and female participants while the male stimulates the woman’s clitoris. The goal of this practice, called orgasmic meditation (OM), according to the practitioners is not sexual, but to use the focus on clitoral stimulation to facilitate a meditative state of connectedness and calm alertness between the two participants. Methods: fMRI was acquired on 20 pairs of subjects shortly following one of two states that were randomized in their order – during the OM practice or during a neutral condition. The practice is performed while the female is lying down on pillows with the clitoris exposed. During the practice, the male performs digital stimulation of the clitoris for 15 min. Resting BOLD image acquisition was performed at completion of the practice to assess changes in functional connectivity associated with the performance of the practice. Results: The results demonstrated significant changes (p < 0.05) in functional connectivity associated with the OM compared to the neutral condition. For the entire group there was altered connectivity following the OM practice involving the left superior temporal lobe, the frontal lobe, anterior cingulate, and insula. In female subjects, there was altered connectivity involving the cerebellum, thalamus, inferior frontal lobe posterior parietal lobe, angular gyrus, amygdala and middle temporal gyrus, and prefrontal cortex. In males, functional connectivity changes involved the supramarginal gyrus, cerebellum, and orbitofrontal gyrus, cerebellum, parahippocampus, inferior temporal gyrus, and anterior cingulate. Conclusion: Overall, these findings suggest a complex pattern of functional connectivity changes occurring in both members of the couple pair that result from this unique meditation practice. The changes represent a hybrid of functional connectivity findings with some similarities to meditation based practices and some with sexual stimulation and orgasm. This study has broader implications for understanding the dynamic relationship between sexuality and spirituality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew B Newberg
- Department of Integrative Medicine and Nutritional Sciences, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, United States.,Department of Radiology, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Nancy A Wintering
- Department of Integrative Medicine and Nutritional Sciences, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Chloe Hriso
- Department of Integrative Medicine and Nutritional Sciences, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Faezeh Vedaei
- Department of Radiology, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Marie Stoner
- Department of Integrative Medicine and Nutritional Sciences, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Reneita Ross
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, United States
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11
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Sung M, Ha NH, Lee US, Yang H. A cross-sectional study on the relationship between meditation training and emotional intelligence in women. Nurs Open 2021; 8:1063-1068. [PMID: 34482661 PMCID: PMC8046103 DOI: 10.1002/nop2.715] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2020] [Revised: 10/26/2020] [Accepted: 11/05/2020] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
AIM We aimed to reveal the relationship of meditation with emotional intelligence (EI), sleep quality and melatonin level. DESIGN A cross-sectional study. METHODS Our current research was performed on middle-aged women. EI scale, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and night-time saliva melatonin were measured for 65 participants including 33 meditators and 32 controls. RESULTS The meditation group showed a significantly higher EI score than the control group. In the regression analysis between EI and age, only the meditation group showed a significant positive correlation. The Pearson correlation analysis among all participants revealed a significant negative correlation between PSQI and EI. There was no significant group difference in the melatonin and PSQI.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Na Hyun Ha
- Department of Brain‐based Emotion CoachingGlobal Cyber UniversitySeoulKorea
| | - Ul Soon Lee
- Department of Brain Education ConvergenceGlobal Cyber UniversitySeoulKorea
| | - Hyun‐Jeong Yang
- Korea Institute of Brain ScienceSeoulKorea
- Department of Integrative Health CareUniversity of Brain EducationCheonanKorea
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Lefranc B, Martin-Krumm C, Aufauvre-Poupon C, Berthail B, Trousselard M. Mindfulness, Interoception, and Olfaction: A Network Approach. Brain Sci 2020; 10:brainsci10120921. [PMID: 33260427 PMCID: PMC7760383 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci10120921] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2020] [Revised: 11/24/2020] [Accepted: 11/26/2020] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
The fine-tuned interplay between the brain and the body underlies the adaptive ability to respond appropriately in the changing environment. Mindfulness Disposition (MD) has been associated with efficient emotional functioning because of a better ability to feel engaged by information from the body and to notice subtle changes. This interoceptive ability is considered to shape the ability to respond to external stimuli, especially olfaction. However, few studies have evaluated the relationships between interoception and exteroception according to MD. We conducted an exploratory study among 76 healthy subjects for first investigating whether MD is associated with better exteroception and second for describing the causal interactions network between mindfulness, interoception, emotion, and subjective and objective olfaction assessments. Results found that a high level of MD defined by clustering exhibited best scores in positive emotions, interoception, and extra sensors’ acuity. The causal network approach showed that the interactions between the interoception subscales differed according to the MD profiles. Moreover, interoception awareness is strongly connected with both the MD and the hedonic value of odors. Then, differences according to MD might provide arguments for a more mindful attention style toward interoceptive cues in relation to available exteroceptive information. This interaction might underlie positive health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Barbara Lefranc
- APEMAC/EPSAM, EA 4360, Ile du Saulcy, BP 30309, CEDEX 1, 57006 Metz, France; (C.M.-K.); (M.T.)
- French Armed Forces Biomedical Research Institute, BP73, CEDEX, 91223 Brétigny-sur-Orge, France
- Correspondence:
| | - Charles Martin-Krumm
- APEMAC/EPSAM, EA 4360, Ile du Saulcy, BP 30309, CEDEX 1, 57006 Metz, France; (C.M.-K.); (M.T.)
- French Armed Forces Biomedical Research Institute, BP73, CEDEX, 91223 Brétigny-sur-Orge, France
- Ecole de Psychologues Praticiens, Institut Catholique de Paris (Catholic Institute of Paris), VCR/ICP EA 7403-23, rue du Montparnasse, 75006 Paris, France
| | | | - Benoit Berthail
- French Military Health Service Academy, 1 Place Alphonse Laveran, CEDEX 05, 75230 Paris, France;
| | - Marion Trousselard
- APEMAC/EPSAM, EA 4360, Ile du Saulcy, BP 30309, CEDEX 1, 57006 Metz, France; (C.M.-K.); (M.T.)
- French Armed Forces Biomedical Research Institute, BP73, CEDEX, 91223 Brétigny-sur-Orge, France
- Ecole de Psychologues Praticiens, Institut Catholique de Paris (Catholic Institute of Paris), VCR/ICP EA 7403-23, rue du Montparnasse, 75006 Paris, France
- French Military Health Service Academy, 1 Place Alphonse Laveran, CEDEX 05, 75230 Paris, France;
- Réseau ABC des Psychotraumas, 34000 Montpellier, France
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Nicholson AA, Ros T, Densmore M, Frewen PA, Neufeld RWJ, Théberge J, Jetly R, Lanius RA. A randomized, controlled trial of alpha-rhythm EEG neurofeedback in posttraumatic stress disorder: A preliminary investigation showing evidence of decreased PTSD symptoms and restored default mode and salience network connectivity using fMRI. Neuroimage Clin 2020; 28:102490. [PMID: 33395981 PMCID: PMC7708928 DOI: 10.1016/j.nicl.2020.102490] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2020] [Revised: 10/20/2020] [Accepted: 10/27/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The default-mode network (DMN) and salience network (SN) have been shown to display altered connectivity in posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Restoring aberrant connectivity within these networks with electroencephalogram neurofeedback (EEG-NFB) has been shown previously to be associated with acute decreases in symptoms. Here, we conducted a double-blind, sham-controlled randomized trial of alpha-rhythm EEG-NFB in participants with PTSD (n = 36) over 20-weeks. Our aim was to provide mechanistic evidence underlying clinical improvements by examining changes in network connectivity via fMRI. METHODS We randomly assigned participants with a primary diagnosis of PTSD to either the experimental group (n = 18) or sham-control group (n = 18). We collected resting-state fMRI scans pre- and post-NFB intervention, for both the experimental and sham-control PTSD groups. We further compared baseline brain connectivity measures pre-NFB to age-matched healthy controls (n = 36). RESULTS With regard to the primary outcome measure of PTSD severity, we found a significant main effect of time in the absence of a group × time interaction. Nevertheless, we found significantly decreased PTSD severity scores in the experimental NFB group only, when comparing post-NFB (dz = 0.71) and 3-month follow-up scores (dz = 0.77) to baseline measures. Interestingly, we found evidence to suggest a shift towards normalization of DMN and SN connectivity post-NFB in the experimental group only. Both decreases in PTSD severity and NFB performance were correlated to DMN and SN connectivity post-NFB in the experimental group. Critically, remission rates of PTSD were significant higher in the experimental group (61.1%) as compared to the sham-control group (33.3%). CONCLUSION The current study shows mechanistic evidence for therapeutic changes in DMN and SN connectivity that are known to be associated with PTSD psychopathology with no patient dropouts. This preliminary investigation merits further research to demonstrate fully the clinical efficacy of EEG-NFB as an adjunctive therapy for PTSD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew A Nicholson
- Department of Cognition, Emotion, and Methods in Psychology, University of Vienna, Austria
| | - Tomas Ros
- Departments of Neuroscience and Psychiatry, University of Geneva, Campus Biotech, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Maria Densmore
- Departments of Neuroscience, Western University, London, ON, Canada; Imaging, Lawson Health Research Institute, London, ON, Canada
| | - Paul A Frewen
- Departments of Neuroscience, Western University, London, ON, Canada; Departments of Psychology, Western University, London, ON, Canada
| | - Richard W J Neufeld
- Departments of Neuroscience, Western University, London, ON, Canada; Departments of Psychiatry, Western University, London, ON, Canada; Departments of Psychology, Western University, London, ON, Canada
| | - Jean Théberge
- Departments of Psychiatry, Western University, London, ON, Canada; Departments of Psychology, Western University, London, ON, Canada; Departments of Medical Imaging, Western University, London, ON, Canada; Imaging, Lawson Health Research Institute, London, ON, Canada; Department of Diagnostic Imaging, St. Joseph's Healthcare, London, ON, Canada
| | - Rakesh Jetly
- Canadian Forces, Health Services, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Ruth A Lanius
- Departments of Neuroscience, Western University, London, ON, Canada; Departments of Psychiatry, Western University, London, ON, Canada; Imaging, Lawson Health Research Institute, London, ON, Canada.
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Sung MK, Lee US, Ha NH, Koh E, Yang HJ. A potential association of meditation with menopausal symptoms and blood chemistry in healthy women: A pilot cross-sectional study. Medicine (Baltimore) 2020; 99:e22048. [PMID: 32899065 PMCID: PMC7478772 DOI: 10.1097/md.0000000000022048] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Owing to hormonal changes, women experience various psychophysiological alterations over a wide age range, which may result in decreased quality of life as well as in increased risks of diseases, such as cardiovascular diseases. Although studies have been performed to research complementary methods, such as meditation, the research field still requires an adequate amount of studies for public health guidelines. This pilot cross-sectional study aims to investigate a potential association of meditation with menopausal symptoms and blood chemistry for healthy women. In this study, data of 65 healthy women (age range 25-67) including 33 meditation practitioners and 32 meditation-naïve controls were analyzed to compare the Menopausal Rating Scale scores and blood chemistry with 7 more dropouts in the blood chemistry. For blood chemistry, nine components including glucose (GLU) and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL) were measured. Two-way analysis of variance was performed by dividing the total participants into 2 groups: premenopausal and postmenopausal participants. Compared to the control group, the meditation group showed a trend of reductions in the Menopausal Rating Scale total score (P = .054) and its 2 subcomponents: depressive mood (P = .064) and irritability (P = .061). In HDL level, there was a significant interaction between group and menopausal state (P = .039) with following post hoc results: among the premenopausal participants, a significant increase in the meditation group compared to the control group (P = .005); among the control group, a significant increase in the postmenopausal compared to the premenopausal participants (P = .030). In GLU level, there was a mild interaction between group and menopausal state (P = .070) with following post hoc results: among the postmenopausal participants, a trend of increase in the control group compared to the meditation group (P = .081); among the control group, a significant increase in the postmenopausal compared to the premenopausal participants (P = .040). Our research suggests a potential association of practicing meditation with alleviations in menopausal symptoms and changes in blood chemistry, warranting further studies with a longitudinal study design and larger populations to understand the underlying causal relationships.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Ul Soon Lee
- Department of Brain Education, Global Cyber University, Cheonan
| | - Na Hyun Ha
- Department of Brain-based Emotion Coaching, Global Cyber University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Eugene Koh
- Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Hyun-Jeong Yang
- Korea Institute of Brain Science, Seoul
- Department of Integrative Health Care, University of Brain Education, Cheonan, Republic of Korea
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Lee D, Lee WJ, Choi SH, Jang JH, Kang DH. Long-term beneficial effects of an online mind-body training program on stress and psychological outcomes in female healthcare providers: A non-randomized controlled study. Medicine (Baltimore) 2020; 99:e21027. [PMID: 32769863 PMCID: PMC7593019 DOI: 10.1097/md.0000000000021027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Mind-body training (MBT) programs are effective interventions for relieving stress and improving psychological capabilities. To expand our previous study which demonstrated the short-term effects of an 8-week online MBT program, the present study investigated whether those short-term effects persist up to a month after the end of the intervention.Among previous participants, 56 (64%) participated in this follow-up study, 25 in the MBT group and 31 in the control group. Outcome measures included the stress response, emotional intelligence, resilience, coping strategies, positive and negative affect, and anger expression of both groups at baseline, at 8 weeks (right after the training or waiting period), and at 12 weeks (a month after the training or waiting period).The MBT group showed a greater decrease in stress response at 8 weeks, and this reduction remained a month after the end of the intervention. The effect of MBT on resilience and effective coping strategies was also significant at 8 weeks and remained constant a month later. However, the improvement to emotional intelligence and negative affect did not persist a month after training.These findings suggest that the beneficial short-term effects of MBT may last beyond the training period even without continuous practice, but the retention of these benefits seems to depend on the outcome variables. Through a convenient, affordable, and easily accessible online format, MBT may provide cost-effective solutions for employees at worksites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dasom Lee
- Emotional Information and Communication Technology Association
- Department of Psychiatry, Seoul National University Hospital
| | - Won Joon Lee
- Department of Psychiatry, Kangdong Sacred Heart Hospital
| | - Soo-Hee Choi
- Department of Psychiatry, Seoul National University Hospital
- Department of Psychiatry and Institute of Human Behavioral Sciences
| | - Joon-Hwan Jang
- Department of Psychiatry, Seoul National University Hospital
- Department of Medicine, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Do-Hyung Kang
- Emotional Information and Communication Technology Association
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Lee SH, Hwang SM, Kang DH, Yang HJ. Brain education-based meditation for patients with hypertension and/or type 2 diabetes: A pilot randomized controlled trial. Medicine (Baltimore) 2019; 98:e15574. [PMID: 31083232 PMCID: PMC6531095 DOI: 10.1097/md.0000000000015574] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Hypertension and type 2 diabetes are chronic diseases, which generally require lifetime care. Meditation and yoga can be complementary to pharmacological therapies according to the scientific evidences so far. Brain education-based meditation (BEM) is a technique, which has been known to change brain structure, psychology, and physiology of healthy adult participants. This randomized, nonblinded pilot trial aimed to examine whether BEM affects the conditions of patients with hypertension and/or type 2 diabetes compared with health education classes. METHODS We randomly allocated 48 patients with hypertension and/or type 2 diabetes to BEM (n = 24) or health education (n = 24) classes in the Ulsan Junggu Public Health Center in Korea, where the classes were run during the same period and explored the impact of 8-week practice on the serum glutamic-oxaloacetic transaminase, serum glutamic pyruvic transaminase, gamma glutamyl transpeptidase, creatinine, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol. Total RNA was extracted to examine inflammatory gene expressions from the whole blood using PAXgene blood RNA System. In addition, self-reports on mental/physical health were evaluated. The Student's t test, chi-squared test, and analysis of covariance were used for statistical analysis. RESULTS The number of people who participated until the completion of the study was 14 in the control and 21 in the BEM group. After 8 weeks, LDL cholesterol level was significantly decreased in the BEM group after the intervention (13.82 mg/dL reduction, P < .05), while it was not significantly altered in the control group. The expression of inflammatory genes was significantly reduced after 8 weeks of the BEM training (0.3-, 0.5-, and 0.2-fold change for NFKB2, RELA, and IL1B, respectively, all P < .05). In the item analysis of mental/physical health self-reports, a significant improvement was confirmed as follows: increases in focus, confidence, relaxation, and happiness; decreases in fatigue, anger, and loneliness (all P < .05). There were no important adverse events or side-effects by BEM intervention. CONCLUSION Compared to health education, BEM helps lower LDL cholesterol level and the inflammatory gene expression in the patients with hypertension and/or type 2 diabetes. Moreover, BEM induces positive effects on the self-reported mental/physical states, warranting further study.
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Affiliation(s)
- Seung-Ho Lee
- Department of Brain Education
- Department of Counseling Psychology, University of Brain Education, Dongnam-gu, Cheonan-si, Chungcheongnam-do
| | | | - Do-Hyung Kang
- Emotional Information and Communication Technology Association, Dae-jeon
| | - Hyun-Jeong Yang
- Department of Brain Education
- Department of Integrative Biosciences, University of Brain Education, Dongnam-gu, Cheonan-si, Chungcheongnam-do
- Korea Institute of Brain Science, Seoul, Republic of Korea
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Lee D, Kang DH, Ha NH, Oh CY, Lee U, Kang SW. Effects of an Online Mind-Body Training Program on the Default Mode Network: An EEG Functional Connectivity Study. Sci Rep 2018; 8:16935. [PMID: 30446714 PMCID: PMC6240056 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-34947-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2018] [Accepted: 10/24/2018] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Online mind-body training (MBT) programs can improve the psychological capabilities of practitioners. Although there has been a lot of effort to understand the neural mechanisms underlying the therapeutic effects of meditation, little is known about changes in electroencephalographic (EEG) functional connectivity that accompany mind-body training. The present study aimed to investigate how an online MBT program alters EEG functional connectivity in the default mode network (DMN). We assessed a group of healthcare providers, including 14 females who participated in the 4-week MBT program and 15 females who underwent a 4-week of waiting period. EEG data and information about psychological states were obtained at baseline and 4 weeks. The result was that the intervention group showed significant reductions in anxiety and trait anger that were accompanied by increased global DMN network strengths in the theta and alpha (but not beta and delta) frequency bands; these changes were not observed in the control group. Other variables including state anger, positive and negative affect, and self-esteem have not been changed over time in both groups. These findings suggest that practicing the mind-body training could have a relevance to the functional differences in network related to stress and anxiety reaction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dasom Lee
- Department of Psychiatry, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Do-Hyung Kang
- Department of Psychiatry, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
- Department of Psychiatry, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Republic of Korea
- Emotional Information andCommunication Technology Industrial Association, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Na-Hyun Ha
- Department of Brain-based Emotion Coaching, Global Cyber University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Chang-Young Oh
- Department of Brain-based Emotion Coaching, Global Cyber University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Ulsoon Lee
- Department of Brain-based Emotion Coaching, Global Cyber University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Seung Wan Kang
- Data Center for Korean EEG, College of Nursing, Seoul National University, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
- iMediSync Inc., Seoul, Republic of Korea.
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