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Sim S, Maldonado IL, Castelnau P, Barantin L, El-Hage W, Andersson F, Cottier JP. Neural correlates of mindfulness meditation and hypnosis on magnetic resonance imaging: similarities and differences. A scoping review. J Neuroradiol 2024; 51:131-144. [PMID: 37981196 DOI: 10.1016/j.neurad.2023.11.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2023] [Revised: 10/23/2023] [Accepted: 11/12/2023] [Indexed: 11/21/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Mindfulness meditation (MM) and hypnosis practices are gaining interest in mental health, but their physiological mechanisms remain poorly understood. This study aimed to synthesize the functional, morphometric and metabolic changes associated with each practice using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and to identify their similarities and differences. METHODS MRI studies investigating MM and hypnosis in mental health, specifically stress, anxiety, and depression, were systematically screened following PRISMA guidelines from four research databases (PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, PsycINFO) between 2010 and 2022. RESULTS In total, 97 references met the inclusion criteria (84 for MM and 13 for hypnosis). This review showed common and divergent points regarding the regions involved and associated brain connectivity during MM practice and hypnosis. The primary commonality between mindfulness and hypnosis was decreased default mode network intrinsic activity and increased central executive network - salience network connectivity. Increased connectivity between the default mode network and the salience network was observed in meditative practice and mindfulness predisposition, but not in hypnosis. CONCLUSIONS While MRI studies provide a better understanding of the neural basis of hypnosis and meditation, this review underscores the need for more rigorous studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sindy Sim
- CHRU de Tours, service de radiologie, Tours, France
| | | | - Pierre Castelnau
- UMR 1253, iBrain, Université de Tours, Inserm, Tours, France; Service de Neuropédiatrie et Handicaps, Hôpital Clocheville, CHRU, Tours, France; CUMIC, Collège Universitaire des Médecines Intégratives et Complémentaires, Nantes, France
| | | | - Wissam El-Hage
- UMR 1253, iBrain, Université de Tours, Inserm, Tours, France; CHRU de Tours, Clinique Psychiatrique Universitaire, Tours, France
| | | | - Jean-Philippe Cottier
- CHRU de Tours, service de radiologie, Tours, France; UMR 1253, iBrain, Université de Tours, Inserm, Tours, France; CUMIC, Collège Universitaire des Médecines Intégratives et Complémentaires, Nantes, France.
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2
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Lu C, Moliadze V, Nees F. Dynamic processes of mindfulness-based alterations in pain perception. Front Neurosci 2023; 17:1253559. [PMID: 38027503 PMCID: PMC10665508 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2023.1253559] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2023] [Accepted: 10/05/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Mindfulness-based processes have been shown to enhance attention and related behavioral responses, including analgesia, which is discussed as an effective method in the context of pain interventions. In the present review, we introduce the construct of mindfulness, delineating the concepts, factors, and processes that are summarized under this term and might serve as relevant components of the underlying mechanistic pathways in the field of pain. We also discuss how differences in factors such as definitions of mindfulness, study design, and strategies in mindfulness-based attention direction may need to be considered when putting the findings from previous studies into a whole framework. In doing so, we capitalize on a potential dynamic process model of mindfulness-based analgesia. In this respect, the so-called mindfulness-based analgesia may initially result from improved cognitive regulation strategies, while at later stages of effects may be driven by a reduction of interference between both cognitive and affective factors. With increasing mindfulness practice, pathways and mechanisms of mindfulness analgesia may change dynamically, which could result from adaptive coping. This is underlined by the fact that the neural mechanism of mindfulness analgesia is manifested as increased activation in the ACC and aINS at the beginner level while increased activation in the pINS and reduced activation in the lPFC at the expert level.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Frauke Nees
- Institute of Medical Psychology and Medical Sociology, University Medical Center Schleswig-Holstein, Kiel University, Kiel, Germany
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3
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Brown KW, Aliev F, Eley TC, Dick DM, Sawyers C. A multivariate twin study of the genetic association between present moment attention and subjective wellbeing. Sci Rep 2023; 13:17456. [PMID: 37838734 PMCID: PMC10576771 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-42810-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2023] [Accepted: 09/14/2023] [Indexed: 10/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Considerable evidence supports the role of present-moment attention, a central feature of mindfulness, in subjective wellbeing maintenance and enhancement. Yet it is not clear why such a relation exists. This study examined the genetic and environmental contributions of present-moment attention to subjective wellbeing. Consistent with the "generalist genes hypothesis" and prior evidence, we hypothesized that presence and subjective wellbeing would show a substantial genetic correlation and smaller environmental correlation. Using a large epidemiological sample of healthy 16-year-old twins in the United Kingdom (N = 1136 monozygotic (MZ) and dizygotic (DZ) twin pairs), genetic overlap was found between presence and the cognitive component of subjective wellbeing (life satisfaction), and to a lesser extent, the affective component of subjective wellbeing (operationalized as happiness). The non-shared environmental overlap between these constructs was substantial. This study provides the first evidence known to us showing that present-centered attention, a primary component of mindfulness, has both genetic and environmental overlap with subjective wellbeing. The findings have implications for understanding mechanisms by which presence is associated with positive emotions and life satisfaction, and suggest, pending additional research, that mindfulness-based interventions to enhance wellbeing may be best suited to those with a genetic propensity toward mindful presence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kirk Warren Brown
- Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, USA.
- Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, USA.
| | - Fazil Aliev
- Rutgers Addiction Research Center, Rutgers University, Piscataway, USA
| | | | - Danielle M Dick
- Rutgers Addiction Research Center, Rutgers University, Piscataway, USA
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Lu H, Li X, Wang Y, Song Y, Liu J. Hippocampus links perceived social support with self-esteem. Soc Neurosci 2023; 18:132-141. [PMID: 37200111 DOI: 10.1080/17470919.2023.2216471] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2022] [Revised: 04/14/2023] [Accepted: 05/23/2023] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
Self-esteem is an important psychological resource with adaptive values, and numerous investigations have revealed that self-esteem is influenced by perceived social support. However, the potential neural basis linking perceived social support with self-esteem remains unclear. Therefore, we used voxel-based morphometry to explore whether the hippocampus and amygdala function as the neuroanatomical basis linking perceived social support with self-esteem in a cohort of 243 young healthy adults (128 women; mean age 22.64 years, standard deviation 1.01 years). The Social Provisions Scale and Rosenberg Self Esteem Scale were used for the survey. Magnetic resonance imaging was used to measure the gray matter volume of the hippocampus and amygdala. Correlation analysis revealed that those who perceived more social support had higher self-esteem. Notably, mediation analysis showed that hippocampal gray matter volume linked perceived social support with self-esteem. Our study suggests that the hippocampus plays a primary, but not exclusive, role in linking perceived social support with self-esteem, which provides a novel explanation for how perceived social support affects self-esteem from the perspective of cognitive neuroscience.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huanhua Lu
- School of Marxism, China University of Geosciences (Beijing), Beijing, China
| | - Xueting Li
- Department of Psychology, Renmin University of China, Beijing, China
| | - Yinan Wang
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Applied Experimental Psychology, National Demonstration Center for Experimental Psychology Education (Beijing Normal University), Faculty of Psychology, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
| | - Yiying Song
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Applied Experimental Psychology, National Demonstration Center for Experimental Psychology Education (Beijing Normal University), Faculty of Psychology, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
| | - Jia Liu
- Department of Psychology & Tsinghua Laboratory of Brain and Intelligence, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
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5
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Buchwitz TM, Ruppert-Junck MC, Greuel A, Maier F, Thieken F, Jakobs V, Eggers C. Exploring impaired self-awareness of motor symptoms in Parkinson's disease: Resting-state fMRI correlates and the connection to mindfulness. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0279722. [PMID: 36827321 PMCID: PMC9955618 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0279722] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2022] [Accepted: 12/13/2022] [Indexed: 02/25/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To further explore the phenomenon of impaired self-awareness of motor symptoms in patients with Parkinson's Disease by using an evaluated measurement approach applied in previous studies, while also examining its connection with dispositional mindfulness and possible correlates of functional connectivity. BACKGROUND Recently, the phenomenon of impaired self-awareness has been studied more intensively by applying different measurement and imaging methods. Existing literature also points towards a possible connection with mindfulness, which has not been examined in a cross-sectional study. There is no data available concerning correlates of functional connectivity. METHODS Non-demented patients with idiopathic Parkinson's Disease without severe depression were tested for impaired self-awareness for motor symptoms following a psychometrically evaluated approach. Mindfulness was measured by applying the German version of the Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire. A subset of eligible patients underwent functional MRI scanning. Spearman correlation analyses were performed to examine clinical data. Whole-brain voxelwise regressions between seed-based connectivity and behavioral measures were calculated to identify functional connectivity correlates of impaired self-awareness scores. RESULTS A total of 41 patients with Parkinson's Disease were included. 15 patients successfully underwent resting-state fMRI scanning. Up to 88% of patients showed signs of impaired self-awareness. Awareness for hypokinetic movements correlated with total mindfulness values and three facets, while awareness for dyskinetic movements did not. Three significant clusters between scores of impaired self-awareness in general and for dyskinetic movements were identified linking behavioral measures with the functional connectivity of the inferior frontal gyrus, the right insular cortex, the supplementary motor area, and the precentral gyrus among others. Impaired self-awareness for hypokinetic movements did not have any neural correlate. CONCLUSIONS Clinical data is comparable with results from previous studies applying the same structured approach to measure impaired self-awareness in Parkinson's Disease. Functional connectivity analyses were conducted for the first time to evaluate neural correlates thereof. This data does not support a connection between impaired self-awareness of motor symptoms and dispositional mindfulness.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Marina Christine Ruppert-Junck
- Department of Neurology, University Hospital Marburg, Marburg, Germany
- Center for Mind, Brain, and Behavior (CMBB), Universities Marburg and Gießen, Marburg, Germany
| | - Andrea Greuel
- Department of Neurology, University Hospital Marburg, Marburg, Germany
| | - Franziska Maier
- Department of Psychiatry, University Hospital Cologne, Medical Faculty, Cologne, Germany
| | - Franziska Thieken
- Department of Neurology, University Hospital Marburg, Marburg, Germany
| | - Viktoria Jakobs
- Department of Neurology, University Hospital Marburg, Marburg, Germany
| | - Carsten Eggers
- Department of Neurology, University Hospital Marburg, Marburg, Germany
- Center for Mind, Brain, and Behavior (CMBB), Universities Marburg and Gießen, Marburg, Germany
- Department of Neurology, Knappschaftskrankenhaus Bottrop GmbH, Bottrop, Germany
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6
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Aguerre NV, Gómez-Ariza CJ, Ibáñez-Molina AJ, Bajo MT. Electrophysiological correlates of dispositional mindfulness: A quantitative and complexity EEG study. Br J Psychol 2023. [PMID: 36748402 DOI: 10.1111/bjop.12636] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2022] [Revised: 01/12/2023] [Accepted: 01/16/2023] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
While growing evidence supports that dispositional mindfulness relates to psychological health and cognitive enhancement, to date there have been only a few attempts to characterize its neural underpinnings. In the present study, we aimed at exploring the electrophysiological (EEG) signature of dispositional mindfulness using quantitative and complexity measures of EEG during resting state and while performing a learning task. Hundred twenty participants were assessed with the Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire and underwent 5 min eyes-closed resting state and 5 min at task EEG recording. We hypothesized that high mindfulness individuals would show patterns of brain activity related to (a) lower involvement of the default mode network (DMN) at rest (reduced frontal gamma power) and (b) a state of 'task readiness' reflected in a more similar pattern from rest to task (reduced overall q-EEG power at rest but not at task), as compared to their low mindfulness counterparts. Dispositional mindfulness was significantly linked to reduced frontal gamma power at rest and lower overall power during rest but not at task. In addition, we found a trend towards higher entropy during task performance in mindful individuals, which has recently been reported during mindfulness meditation. Altogether, our results add to those from expert meditators to show that high (dispositional) mindfulness seems to have a specific electrophysiological pattern characteristic of less involvement of the DMN and mind-wandering processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nuria Victoria Aguerre
- Department of Experimental Psychology - Mind, Brain and Behavior Research Center (CIMCYC), University of Granada, Granada, Spain
| | | | | | - María Teresa Bajo
- Department of Experimental Psychology - Mind, Brain and Behavior Research Center (CIMCYC), University of Granada, Granada, Spain
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7
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Weder BJ. Mindfulness in the focus of the neurosciences - The contribution of neuroimaging to the understanding of mindfulness. Front Behav Neurosci 2022; 16:928522. [PMID: 36325155 PMCID: PMC9622333 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2022.928522] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2022] [Accepted: 07/11/2022] [Indexed: 08/22/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Mindfulness affects human levels of experience by facilitating the immediate and impartial perception of phenomena, including sensory stimulation, emotions, and thoughts. Mindfulness is now a focus of neuroimaging, since technical and methodological developments in magnetic resonance imaging have made it possible to observe subjects performing mindfulness tasks. OBJECTIVE We set out to describe the association between mental processes and characteristics of mindfulness, including their specific cerebral patterns, as shown in structural and functional neuroimaging studies. METHODS We searched the MEDLINE databank of references and abstracts on life sciences and biomedical topics via PubMed using the keywords: "mindfulness," "focused attention (FA)," "open monitoring (OM)," "mind wandering," "emotional regulation," "magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)" and "default mode network (DMN)." This review extracted phenomenological experiences across populations with varying degrees of mindfulness training and correlated these experiences with structural and functional neuroimaging patterns. Our goal was to describe how mindful behavior was processed by the constituents of the default mode network during specific tasks. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS Depending on the research paradigm employed to explore mindfulness, investigations of function that used fMRI exhibited distinct activation patterns and functional connectivities. Basic to mindfulness is a long-term process of learning to use meditation techniques. Meditators progress from voluntary control of emotions and subjective preferences to emotional regulation and impartial awareness of phenomena. As their ability to monitor perception and behavior, a metacognitive skill, improves, mindfulness increases self-specifying thoughts governed by the experiential phenomenological self and reduces self-relational thoughts of the narrative self. The degree of mindfulness (ratio of self-specifying to self-relational thoughts) may affect other mental processes, e.g., awareness, working memory, mind wandering and belief formation. Mindfulness prevents habituation and the constant assumptions associated with mindlessness. Self-specifying thinking during mindfulness and self-relational thinking in the narrative self relies on the default mode network. The main constituents of this network are the dorsal and medial prefrontal cortex, and posterior cingulate cortex. These midline structures are antagonistic to self-specifying and self-relational processes, since the predominant process determines their differential involvement. Functional and brain volume changes indicate brain plasticity, mediated by mental training over the long-term.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bruno J. Weder
- Support Centre for Advanced Neuroimaging (SCAN), Institute for Diagnostic and Interventional Neuroradiology, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
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8
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Yamaguchi R, Matsudaira I, Takeuchi H, Imanishi T, Kimura R, Tomita H, Kawashima R, Taki Y. RELN rs7341475 associates with brain structure in japanese healthy females. Neuroscience 2022; 494:38-50. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2022.05.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2021] [Revised: 04/06/2022] [Accepted: 05/06/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
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9
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Gan Q, Ding N, Bi G, Liu R, Zhao X, Zhong J, Wu S, Zeng Y, Cui L, Wu K, Fu Y, Chen Z. Enhanced Resting-State Functional Connectivity With Decreased Amplitude of Low-Frequency Fluctuations of the Salience Network in Mindfulness Novices. Front Hum Neurosci 2022; 16:838123. [PMID: 35308619 PMCID: PMC8927720 DOI: 10.3389/fnhum.2022.838123] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2021] [Accepted: 01/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Mindfulness and accordant interventions are often used as complementary treatments to psychological or psychosomatic problems. This has also been gradually integrated into daily lives for the promotion of psychological well-being in non-clinical populations. The experience of mindful acceptance in a non-judgmental way brought about the state, which was less interfered by a negative effect. Mindfulness practice often begins with focused attention (FA) meditation restricted to an inner experience. We postulate that the brain areas related to an interoceptive function would demonstrate an intrinsic functional change after mindfulness training for the mindful novices along with paying more attention to internal processes. To further explore the influence of mindfulness on the organization of the brain regions, both functional connectivity (FC) in the voxel and the region of interest (ROI) level were calculated. In the current study, 32 healthy volunteers, without any meditation experiences, were enrolled and randomly assigned to a mindfulness-based stress reduction group (MBSR) or control group (CON). Participants in the MBSR group completed 8 weeks of mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) and rated their mindfulness skills before and after MBSR. All subjects were evaluated via resting-state functional MRI (rs-fMRI) in both baselines and after 8 weeks. They also completed a self-report measure of their state and trait anxiety as well as a positive and negative affect. Pre- and post-MBSR assessments revealed a decreased amplitude of low-frequency fluctuations (ALFF) in the right anterior cingulate gyrus (ACC.R), left anterior and posterior insula (aIC.L, pIC.L), as well as left superior medial frontal gyrus (SFGmed.L) in MBSR practitioners. Strengthened FC between right anterior cingulate cortex (ACC.R) and aIC.R was observed. The mean ALFF values of those regions were inversely and positively linked to newly acquired mindful abilities. Along with a decreased negative affect score, our results suggest that the brain regions related to attention and interoceptive function were involved at the beginning of mindfulness. This study provides new clues in elucidating the time of evaluating the brain mechanisms of mindfulness novices.
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Affiliation(s)
- Quan Gan
- Medical Faculty, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, China
| | - Ning Ding
- Medical Faculty, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, China
| | - Guoli Bi
- Medical Faculty, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, China
- Department of Magnetic Resonance Imaging, The First People’s Hospital of Yunnan Province, Kunming, China
| | - Ruixiang Liu
- Department of Clinical Psychology, The Second People’s Hospital of Yunnan Province, Kunming, China
| | - Xingrong Zhao
- Department of Psychiatry, The First Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Kunming, China
| | - Jingmei Zhong
- Department of Clinical Psychology, The First People’s Hospital of Yunnan Province, Kunming, China
| | - Shaoyuan Wu
- Department of Clinical Psychology, The First People’s Hospital of Yunnan Province, Kunming, China
| | - Yong Zeng
- Department of Clinical Psychology, The Sixth Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Yuxi, China
| | - Liqian Cui
- Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Kunhua Wu
- Medical Faculty, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, China
- Department of Magnetic Resonance Imaging, The First People’s Hospital of Yunnan Province, Kunming, China
| | - Yunfa Fu
- School of Information Engineering and Automation, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, China
| | - Zhuangfei Chen
- Medical Faculty, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, China
- *Correspondence: Zhuangfei Chen,
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Guan F, Liu G, Pedersen WS, Chen O, Zhao S, Sui J, Peng K. Neurostructural correlates of dispositional self-compassion. Neuropsychologia 2021; 160:107978. [PMID: 34339716 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropsychologia.2021.107978] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2021] [Revised: 07/24/2021] [Accepted: 07/24/2021] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
Self-compassion is an important emotion regulation strategy predicting positive psychological health and fewer psychopathological problems, but little is known about its structural neural basis. In the current study, we investigated the neurostructural correlates of dispositional self-compassion and its components using voxel-based morphometry (VBM). We found that self-compassion was inversely correlated with gray matter volume (GMV) in the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC), which was primarily driven by the reduced self-judgment component. We also found that the mindfulness component was associated with greater GMV in the dorsomedial prefrontal cortex/anterior cingulate cortex and the left supplementary motor area, while the isolation and the over-identification components were both correlated with greater GMV in the right inferior temporal gyrus, and over-identification additionally related to less GMV in visual areas. Our findings suggest that dispositional self-compassion and its components are associated with brain structure in regions involved in emotion regulation, self-referential and emotion processing, with implications for the cognitive and neural mechanisms of self-compassion as well as those underlying the effects of self-compassion on its health outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fang Guan
- Department of Psychology, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - Guanmin Liu
- Department of Psychology, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China.
| | - Walker S Pedersen
- Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA, USA
| | - Outong Chen
- Normal College & School of Education, Qingdao University, Qingdao, China
| | - Sasa Zhao
- UMR 5229, Institut des Sciences Cognitives Marc Jeannerod, CNRS, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, Lyon, France
| | - Jie Sui
- School of Psychology, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, UK
| | - Kaiping Peng
- Department of Psychology, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China.
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Baltruschat S, Cándido A, Maldonado A, Verdejo-Lucas C, Catena-Verdejo E, Catena A. There Is More to Mindfulness Than Emotion Regulation: A Study on Brain Structural Networks. Front Psychol 2021; 12:659403. [PMID: 33868133 PMCID: PMC8046916 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2021.659403] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2021] [Accepted: 03/11/2021] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
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.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sabina Baltruschat
- Mind, Brain and Behavior Research Center (CIMCYC), University of Granada, Granada, Spain
| | - Antonio Cándido
- Mind, Brain and Behavior Research Center (CIMCYC), University of Granada, Granada, Spain
| | - Antonio Maldonado
- Mind, Brain and Behavior Research Center (CIMCYC), University of Granada, Granada, Spain
| | | | | | - Andrés Catena
- Mind, Brain and Behavior Research Center (CIMCYC), University of Granada, Granada, Spain
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12
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Li Y, Yang N, Zhang Y, Xu W, Cai L. The Relationship Among Trait Mindfulness, Attention, and Working Memory in Junior School Students Under Different Stressful Situations. Front Psychol 2021; 12:558690. [PMID: 33737892 PMCID: PMC7960675 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2021.558690] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2020] [Accepted: 01/26/2021] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Attention and working memory are important cognitive functions that affect junior school students’ learning ability and academic performance. This study aimed to explore the relationships among trait mindfulness, attention, and working memory and to explore differences in performance between a high trait mindfulness group and a low one in attention and working memory under different stressful situations. In study 1, 216 junior school students completed the Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire (FFMQ), and their attention and working memory were tested in a non-pressure situation. The results showed that attention had a partial mediating effect between mindfulness and working memory. In study 2, the high trait mindfulness group and the low one were tested for attention and working memory under situations with single and multiple pressures. One notable result was that the attention and working memory performances of the high mindfulness group were all significantly higher than those of the low mindfulness group in every stress situation (no stress, single stress, and multiple stresses). Other important results were that trait mindfulness moderates the relationship between stress and attention and between stress and working memory. These results suggest that trait mindfulness has a protective effect in the process by which various stresses affect attention and working memory. These findings indicate that trait mindfulness is an important psychological quality that affects the attention and working memory of junior school students, and it is also an important psychological resource for effectively coping with the impact of stress on attention and working memory. Therefore, it is possible that improving trait mindfulness may help to improve junior school students’ attention and working memory and enable them to cope better with stress, thereby helping to improve academic performance. This research is of great significance for understanding the association between key psychological qualities and cognitive functions in different stressful situations. These findings also provide insight for future studies in educational psychology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuntao Li
- Psychological Education and Counselling Centre, Southwest University of Science and Technology, Mianyang, China
| | - Ningxi Yang
- Department of Applied Psychology, College of Humanities and Social Sciences, Harbin Engineering University, Harbin, China
| | - Yan Zhang
- Department of Applied Psychology, College of Humanities and Social Sciences, Harbin Engineering University, Harbin, China
| | - Wei Xu
- Faculty of Psychology, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
| | - Li Cai
- Department of Applied Psychology, College of Humanities and Social Sciences, Harbin Engineering University, Harbin, China
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13
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Pernet CR, Belov N, Delorme A, Zammit A. Mindfulness related changes in grey matter: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Brain Imaging Behav 2021; 15:2720-2730. [PMID: 33624219 PMCID: PMC8500886 DOI: 10.1007/s11682-021-00453-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2020] [Revised: 12/17/2020] [Accepted: 01/04/2021] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Abstract
Knowing target regions undergoing strfuncti changes caused by behavioural interventions is paramount in evaluating the effectiveness of such practices. Here, using a systematic review approach, we identified 25 peer-reviewed magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) studies demonstrating grey matter changes related to mindfulness meditation. An activation likelihood estimation (ALE) analysis (n = 16) revealed the right anterior ventral insula as the only significant region with consistent effect across studies, whilst an additional functional connectivity analysis indicates that both left and right insulae, and the anterior cingulate gyrus with adjacent paracingulate gyri should also be considered in future studies. Statistical meta-analyses suggest medium to strong effect sizes from Cohen’s d ~ 0.8 in the right insula to ~ 1 using maxima across the whole brain. The systematic review revealed design issues with selection, information, attrition and confirmation biases, in addition to weak statistical power. In conclusion, our analyses show that mindfulness meditation practice does induce grey matter changes but also that improvements in methodology are needed to establish mindfulness as a therapeutic intervention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cyril R Pernet
- Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences, Edinburgh Imaging, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.
| | - Nikolai Belov
- Department of Psychology, Otto von Guericke University Magdeburg, Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Arnaud Delorme
- CerCo, CNRS, Paul Sabatier University, Toulouse, France.,SCCN, INC, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Alison Zammit
- Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences, Edinburgh Imaging, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
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14
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Berkovich-Ohana A, Furman-Haran E, Malach R, Arieli A, Harel M, Gilaie-Dotan S. Studying the precuneus reveals structure-function-affect correlation in long-term meditators. Soc Cogn Affect Neurosci 2020; 15:1203-1216. [PMID: 33210139 PMCID: PMC7745150 DOI: 10.1093/scan/nsaa137] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2019] [Revised: 06/29/2020] [Accepted: 11/10/2020] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Aviva Berkovich-Ohana
- Department of Neurobiology, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel.,Faculty of Education, The Safra Brain Research Center for the Study of Learning Disabilities, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel
| | - Edna Furman-Haran
- Life Sciences Core Facilities, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Rafael Malach
- Department of Neurobiology, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Amos Arieli
- Department of Neurobiology, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Michal Harel
- Department of Neurobiology, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Sharon Gilaie-Dotan
- School of Optometry and Vision Science, Bar Ilan University, Ramat Gan, Israel.,UCL Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience, Faculty of Brain Sciences, London, UK
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15
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Brief Mindfulness Meditation Induces Gray Matter Changes in a Brain Hub. Neural Plast 2020; 2020:8830005. [PMID: 33299395 PMCID: PMC7704181 DOI: 10.1155/2020/8830005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2020] [Revised: 10/11/2020] [Accepted: 10/30/2020] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Previous studies suggest that the practice of long-term (months to years) mindfulness meditation induces structural plasticity in gray matter. However, it remains unknown whether short-term (<30 days) mindfulness meditation in novices could induce similar structural changes. Our previous randomized controlled trials (RCTs) identified white matter changes surrounding the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) and the posterior cingulate cortex (PCC) within 2 to 4 weeks, following 5-10 h of mindfulness training. Furthermore, these changes were correlated with emotional states in healthy adults. The PCC is a key hub in the functional anatomy implicated in meditation and other perspectival processes. In this longitudinal study using a randomized design, we therefore examined the effect of a 10 h of mindfulness training, the Integrative Body-Mind Training (IBMT) on gray matter volume of the PCC compared to an active control-relaxation training (RT). We found that brief IBMT increased ventral PCC volume and that baseline temperamental trait-an index of individual differences was associated with a reduction in training-induced gray matter increases. Our findings indicate that brief mindfulness meditation induces gray matter plasticity, suggesting that structural changes in ventral PCC-a key hub associated with self-awareness, emotion, cognition, and aging-may have important implications for protecting against mood-related disorders and aging-related cognitive declines.
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16
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Yuan JP, Connolly CG, Henje E, Sugrue LP, Yang TT, Xu D, Tymofiyeva O. Gray Matter Changes in Adolescents Participating in a Meditation Training. Front Hum Neurosci 2020; 14:319. [PMID: 32922278 PMCID: PMC7456888 DOI: 10.3389/fnhum.2020.00319] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2020] [Accepted: 07/17/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Meditation has shown to benefit a wide range of conditions and symptoms, but the neural mechanisms underlying the practice remain unclear. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) studies have investigated the structural brain changes due to the practice by examining volume, density, or cortical thickness changes. However, these studies have focused on adults; meditation’s structural effects on the adolescent brain remain understudied. In this study, we investigated how meditation training affects the structure of the adolescent brain by scanning a group of 38 adolescents (16.48 ± 1.29 years) before and after participating in a 12-week meditation training. Subjects underwent Training for Awareness, Resilience, and Action (TARA), a program that mainly incorporates elements from mindfulness meditation and yoga-based practices. A subset of the adolescents also received an additional control scan 12 weeks before TARA. We conducted voxel-based morphometry (VBM) to assess gray matter volume changes pre- to post-training and during the control period. Subjects showed significant gray matter (GM) volume decreases in the left posterior insula and to a lesser extent in the left thalamus and left putamen after meditation training. There were no significant changes during the control period. Our results support previous findings that meditation affects regions associated with physical and emotional awareness. However, our results are different from previous morphometric studies in which meditation was associated with structural increases. We posit that this discrepancy may be due to the differences between the adolescent brain and the adult brain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Justin P Yuan
- Department of Radiology & Biomedical Imaging, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States.,Department of Psychology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, United States
| | - Colm G Connolly
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Florida State University College of Medicine, Tallahassee, FL, United States
| | - Eva Henje
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, The Langley Porter Psychiatric Institute, Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States.,Department of Clinical Science/Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
| | - Leo P Sugrue
- Department of Radiology & Biomedical Imaging, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States
| | - Tony T Yang
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, The Langley Porter Psychiatric Institute, Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States
| | - Duan Xu
- Department of Radiology & Biomedical Imaging, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States
| | - Olga Tymofiyeva
- Department of Radiology & Biomedical Imaging, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States
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17
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The Bed Nucleus of the Stria Terminalis as a Brain Correlate of Psychological Inflexibility in Fibromyalgia. J Clin Med 2020; 9:jcm9020374. [PMID: 32019063 PMCID: PMC7074535 DOI: 10.3390/jcm9020374] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2020] [Accepted: 01/27/2020] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
This study explored the brain structural correlates of psychological flexibility (PF) as measured with the Psychological Inflexibility in Pain Scale (PIPS) in patients with fibromyalgia (FM). Structural magnetic resonance imaging data from 47 FM patients were used to identify Gray Matter Volume (GMV) alterations related to PIPS scores. Brain GMV clusters related to PIPS were then correlated with clinical and cognitive variables to further explore how emerged brain clusters were intertwined with FM symptomatology. Longitudinal changes in PIPS-related brain clusters values were assessed by studying pre–post data from 30 patients (15 allocated to a mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) program and 15 to treatment-as-usual). Changes in PIPS-related brain clusters were also explored in participants showing greater/lower longitudinal changes in PIPS scores. PIPS scores were positively associated with GMV in a bilateral cluster in the ventral part of the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (BNST). Significant associations between BNST cluster with functional impairment, depressive symptomatology, perceived stress and the nonjudging mindfulness facet were observed. Participants reporting greater pre–post increases in PIPS scores showed greater increases in BNST cluster values. These findings contribute to the understanding on the neurobiological bases of PF in FM and encourage further explorations of the role of the BNST in chronic pain.
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18
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Parkinson TD, Kornelsen J, Smith SD. Trait Mindfulness and Functional Connectivity in Cognitive and Attentional Resting State Networks. Front Hum Neurosci 2019; 13:112. [PMID: 31031607 PMCID: PMC6473082 DOI: 10.3389/fnhum.2019.00112] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2018] [Accepted: 03/14/2019] [Indexed: 01/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Mindfulness has been described as an orienting of attention to the present moment, with openness and compassion. Individuals displaying high trait mindfulness exhibit this tendency as a more permanent personality attribute. Given the numerous physical and mental health benefits associated with mindfulness, there is a great interest in understanding the neural substrates of this trait. The purpose of the current research was to examine how individual differences in trait mindfulness associated with functional connectivity in five resting-state networks related to cognition and attention: the default mode network (DMN), the salience network (SN), the central executive network (CEN), and the dorsal and ventral attention networks (DAN and VAN). Twenty-eight undergraduate participants completed the Five-Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire (FFMQ), a self-report measure of trait mindfulness which also provides scores on five of its sub-categories (Observing, Describing, Acting with Awareness, Non-judging of Inner Experience, and Non-reactivity to Inner Experience). Participants then underwent a structural MRI scan and a 7-min resting state functional MRI scan. Resting-state data were analyzed using independent-component analyses. An analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) was performed to determine the relationship between each resting state network and each FFMQ score. These analyses indicated that: (1) trait mindfulness and its facets showed increased functional connectivity with neural regions related to attentional control, interoception, and executive function; and (2) trait mindfulness and its facets showed decreased functional connectivity with neural regions related to self-referential processing and mind wandering. These patterns of functional connectivity are consistent with some of the benefits of mindfulness-enhanced attention, self-regulation, and focus on present experience. This study provides support for the notion that non-judgmental attention to the present moment facilitates the integration of regions in neural networks that are related to cognition, attention, and sensation.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Stephen D Smith
- Department of Psychology, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada.,Department of Psychology, University of Winnipeg, Winnipeg, MB, Canada
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19
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Chen W, Chen C, Yang P, Bi S, Liu J, Xia M, Lin Q, Ma N, Li N, He Y, Zhang J, Wang Y, Wang W. Long-term Chinese calligraphic handwriting reshapes the posterior cingulate cortex: A VBM study. PLoS One 2019; 14:e0214917. [PMID: 30947247 PMCID: PMC6448813 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0214917] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2017] [Accepted: 03/24/2019] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
As a special kind of handwriting with a brush, Chinese calligraphic handwriting (CCH) requires a large amount of practice with high levels of concentration and emotion regulation. Previous studies have showed that long-term CCH training has positive effects physically (induced by handwriting activities) and psychologically (induced by the state of relaxation and concentration), the latter of which is similar to the effects of meditation. The aim of this study was to investigate the long-term CCH training effect on anxiety and attention, as well as brain structure. Participants were 32 individuals who had at least five years of CCH experience and 44 controls. Results showed that CCH training benefited individuals' selective and divided attention but did not decrease their anxiety level. Moreover, the VBM analysis showed that long-term CCH training was mainly associated with smaller grey matter volumes (GMV) in the right precuneus/posterior cingulate cortex (PCC). No brain areas showed larger GMV in the CCH group than the control group. Using two sets of regions of interest (ROIs), one related to meditation and the other to handwriting, ROI analysis showed significant differences between the CCH and the control group only at the meditation-related ROIs, not at the handwriting-related ROIs. Finally, for the whole sample, the GMV of both the whole brain and the PCC were negatively correlated with selective attention and divided attention. The present study was cross-sectional and had a relatively small sample size, but its results suggested that CCH training might benefit attention and influence particular brain structure through mental processes such as meditation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wen Chen
- Advanced Innovation Center for Future Education, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
- State Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and Learning, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
- IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
- College of Information Science and Technology, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
| | - Chuansheng Chen
- Department of Psychological Science, University of California, Irvine, California, United States of America
| | - Pin Yang
- Conservation Department, The National Palace Museum, Beijing, China
| | - Suyu Bi
- School of International Journalism and Communication, Beijing Foreign Studies University, Beijing, China
- School of Arts and Media, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
| | - Jin Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and Learning, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
- IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
| | - Mingrui Xia
- State Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and Learning, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
- IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
| | - Qixiang Lin
- State Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and Learning, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
- IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
| | - Na Ma
- State Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and Learning, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
| | - Na Li
- State Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and Learning, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
| | - Yong He
- State Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and Learning, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
- IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
| | - Jiacai Zhang
- College of Information Science and Technology, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
| | - Yiwen Wang
- School of International Journalism and Communication, Beijing Foreign Studies University, Beijing, China
| | - Wenjing Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and Learning, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
- IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
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20
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Deepeshwar S, Nagendra HR, Rana BB, Visweswaraiah NK. Evolution from four mental states to the highest state of consciousness: A neurophysiological basis of meditation as defined in yoga texts. PROGRESS IN BRAIN RESEARCH 2019; 244:31-83. [PMID: 30732843 DOI: 10.1016/bs.pbr.2018.10.029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Abstract
This chapter provides a theoretical introduction to states of consciousness and reviews neuroscientific investigations of meditation. The different states of consciousness consist of four mental states, i.e., cancalata (random thinking), ekagrata (non-meditative focusing), dharna (focused meditation), and dhyana (meditation) as defined in yoga texts. Meditation is a self-regulated mental process associated with deep relaxation and increased internalized attention. Scientific investigations on meditation reported changes in electrophysiological signals and neuroimaging measures. But most outcomes of meditation studies showed inconsistent results, this may be due to heterogeneity in meditation methods and techniques evolved in the last 200 years. Traditionally, the features of meditation include the capacity to sustain a heightened awareness of thoughts, behaviors, emotions, and perceptions. Generally, meditation involves non-reactive effortless monitoring of the content of experience from moment to moment. Focused meditation practice involves awareness on a single object and open monitoring meditation is a non-directive meditation involved attention in breathing, mantra, or sound. Therefore, results of few empirical studies of advanced meditators or beginners remain tentative. This is an attempt to compile the meditation-related changes in electrophysiological and neuroimaging processes among experienced and novice practitioners.
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Affiliation(s)
- Singh Deepeshwar
- Department of Yoga and Life Sciences, Cognitive Neuroscience Lab, Swami Vivekananda Yoga University (S-VYASA), Bengaluru, India
| | - H R Nagendra
- Department of Yoga and Life Sciences, Cognitive Neuroscience Lab, Swami Vivekananda Yoga University (S-VYASA), Bengaluru, India
| | - Bal Budhi Rana
- Department of Yoga and Life Sciences, Cognitive Neuroscience Lab, Swami Vivekananda Yoga University (S-VYASA), Bengaluru, India
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21
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Makowski D, Sperduti M, Lavallée S, Nicolas S, Piolino P. Dispositional mindfulness attenuates the emotional attentional blink. Conscious Cogn 2018; 67:16-25. [PMID: 30471471 DOI: 10.1016/j.concog.2018.11.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2018] [Revised: 11/05/2018] [Accepted: 11/12/2018] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Abstract
Emotional stimuli have been shown to automatically hijack attention, hindering the detection of forthcoming targets. Mindfulness is defined as a present moment non-judgemental attentional stance that can be cultivated by meditation practices, but that may present interindividual variability in the general population. The mechanisms underlying modification in emotional reactivity linked to mindfulness are still a matter of debate. In particular, it is not clear whether mindfulness is associated with a diminished emotional response, or with faster recovery. We presented participants with target pictures embedded in a rapid visual presentation stream. The targets could be preceded by negative, neutral or scrambled critical distractors. We showed that dispositional mindfulness, in particular the Non-reacting facet, was related to faster disengagement of attention from emotional stimuli. These results could have implications for mood disorders characterised by an exaggerated attentional bias toward emotional stimuli, such as anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dominique Makowski
- Memory and Cognition Lab, Institute of Psychology, University of Sorbonne Paris Cité, Paris, France; Center for Psychiatry & Neuroscience, INSERM U894, Paris, France
| | - Marco Sperduti
- Memory and Cognition Lab, Institute of Psychology, University of Sorbonne Paris Cité, Paris, France; Center for Psychiatry & Neuroscience, INSERM U894, Paris, France.
| | - Samantha Lavallée
- Memory and Cognition Lab, Institute of Psychology, University of Sorbonne Paris Cité, Paris, France
| | - Serge Nicolas
- Memory and Cognition Lab, Institute of Psychology, University of Sorbonne Paris Cité, Paris, France; Center for Psychiatry & Neuroscience, INSERM U894, Paris, France; Institut Universitaire de France, France
| | - Pascale Piolino
- Memory and Cognition Lab, Institute of Psychology, University of Sorbonne Paris Cité, Paris, France; Center for Psychiatry & Neuroscience, INSERM U894, Paris, France; Institut Universitaire de France, France
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22
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The hippocampus underlies the association between self-esteem and physical health. Sci Rep 2018; 8:17141. [PMID: 30459409 PMCID: PMC6244287 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-34793-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2018] [Accepted: 10/12/2018] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Self-esteem refers to the extent to which we feel positive or negative about ourselves, and reflects an individual's subjective evaluation of personal worth and attitudes about the self. As one kind of positive psychosocial resources, high self-esteem has been found to buffer the effects of stress on physical health. However, little is known about the possible neural basis underlying the association between physical health and self-esteem. In the present study, we investigated whether the hippocampus served as a neuroanatomical basis for the association between self-esteem and physical health in a large population of healthy young adults. We examined self-esteem and self-reported physical health with the Rosenberg Self Esteem Scale (RSES) and the Chinese Constitution Questionnaire (CCQ) respectively, and gray matter volume of the hippocampus was measured using magnetic resonance imaging. As expected, we found that individuals with higher levels of self-esteem had better self-reported physical health. Importantly, the mediation analysis showed that the gray matter volume of the hippocampus mediated the link between self-esteem and physical health, suggesting its critical role in the neural circuitry through which self-esteem is related to physical health.
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23
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Heppner WL, Spears CA, Correa-Fernández V, Castro Y, Li Y, Guo B, Reitzel LR, Vidrine JI, Mazas CA, Cofta-Woerpel L, Cinciripini PM, Ahluwalia JS, Wetter DW. Dispositional Mindfulness Predicts Enhanced Smoking Cessation and Smoking Lapse Recovery. Ann Behav Med 2017; 50:337-47. [PMID: 26743533 DOI: 10.1007/s12160-015-9759-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Although mindfulness has been hypothesized to promote health behaviors, no research has examined how dispositional mindfulness might influence the process of smoking cessation. PURPOSE The current study investigated dispositional mindfulness, smoking abstinence, and recovery from a lapse among African American smokers. METHODS Participants were 399 African Americans seeking smoking cessation treatment (treatments did not include any components related to mindfulness). Dispositional mindfulness and other psychosocial measures were obtained pre-quit; smoking abstinence was assessed 3, 31 days, and 26 weeks post-quit. RESULTS Individuals higher in dispositional mindfulness were more likely to quit smoking both initially and over time. Moreover, among individuals who had lapsed at day 3, those higher in mindfulness were more likely to recover abstinence by the later time points. The mindfulness-early abstinence association was mediated by lower negative affect, lower expectancies to regulate affect via smoking, and higher perceived social support. CONCLUSIONS Results suggest that mindfulness might enhance smoking cessation among African American smokers by operating on mechanisms posited by prominent models of addiction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Whitney L Heppner
- Department of Psychological Science, Georgia College & State University, Milledgeville, GA, USA.
| | - Claire Adams Spears
- Department of Psychology, The Catholic University of America, Washington, DC, USA
| | | | - Yessenia Castro
- School of Social Work, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA
| | - Yisheng Li
- Department of Biostatistics, UT MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Beibei Guo
- Department of Experimental Statistics, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA, USA
| | - Lorraine R Reitzel
- Department of Psychological, Health, and Learning Sciences, University of Houston, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Jennifer Irvin Vidrine
- Stephenson Cancer Center and Department of Family & Preventive Medicine, The University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK, USA
| | - Carlos A Mazas
- Department of Health Disparities Research, UT MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | | | - Paul M Cinciripini
- Department of Behavioral Science, UT MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Jasjit S Ahluwalia
- Department of Epidemiology, Rutgers School of Public Health, Piscataway, NJ, USA
| | - David W Wetter
- Department of Psychology, Rice University, Houston, TX, USA
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24
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A distinction between two instruments measuring dispositional mindfulness and the correlations between those measurements and the neuroanatomical structure. Sci Rep 2017; 7:6252. [PMID: 28740242 PMCID: PMC5524689 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-06599-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2016] [Accepted: 06/15/2017] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
The most widely used measurements of mindfulness are the Mindful Attention Awareness Scale (MAAS) and the Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire (FFMQ). However, controversies exist regarding the application of these scales. Additionally, the neural mechanisms of dispositional mindfulness havebecome a topic of interest. In the current study, we used surface-based methodology to identify the brain regions underlying individual differences in dispositional mindfulness in a large non-clinical sampleand compared the two instruments for measuring the dispositional mindfulness. The results indicated that theMAAS scores were significantly associated with increased greymatter volumes in the right precuneus and the significant association between the precuneus and depression symptomatology was mediated by MAAS scores. Regarding the FFMQ, the Describing, Nonjudging, and Nonreactivity facets were selectively associated with the cortical volume, thickness and surface area of multiple prefrontal regions as well as the inferior parietal lobule. Importantly, Describing mediated the association between the dorsolateral PFC volume and the cognitive reappraisal strategies of emotion regulation. These resultssuggested that the MAASwere mainly associated with self-awareness, while the FFMQ facets were selectively involved in emotion regulation, attention control and self-awareness. Therefore, this study characterized the differences in inter-individual variability between the two typical measurements of dispositional mindfulnessand the correlations between those measurements and imaging analyses.
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25
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Kober SE, Witte M, Ninaus M, Koschutnig K, Wiesen D, Zaiser G, Neuper C, Wood G. Ability to Gain Control Over One's Own Brain Activity and its Relation to Spiritual Practice: A Multimodal Imaging Study. Front Hum Neurosci 2017; 11:271. [PMID: 28596726 PMCID: PMC5442174 DOI: 10.3389/fnhum.2017.00271] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2016] [Accepted: 05/08/2017] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Spiritual practice, such as prayer or meditation, is associated with focusing attention on internal states and self-awareness processes. As these cognitive control mechanisms presumably are also important for neurofeedback (NF), we investigated whether people who pray frequently (N = 20) show a higher ability of self-control over their own brain activity compared to a control group of individuals who rarely pray (N = 20). All participants underwent structural magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and one session of sensorimotor rhythm (SMR, 12–15 Hz) based NF training. Individuals who reported a high frequency of prayer showed improved NF performance compared to individuals who reported a low frequency of prayer. The individual ability to control one’s own brain activity was related to volumetric aspects of the brain. In the low frequency of prayer group, gray matter volumes in the right insula and inferior frontal gyrus were positively associated with NF performance, supporting prior findings that more general self-control networks are involved in successful NF learning. In contrast, participants who prayed regularly showed a negative association between gray matter volume in the left medial orbitofrontal cortex (Brodmann’s area (BA) 10) and NF performance. Due to their regular spiritual practice, they might have been more skillful in gating incoming information provided by the NF system and avoiding task-irrelevant thoughts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Silvia E Kober
- Department of Psychology, University of GrazGraz, Austria.,BioTechMed-GrazGraz, Austria
| | - Matthias Witte
- Department of Psychology, University of GrazGraz, Austria
| | - Manuel Ninaus
- Leibniz-Institut für WissensmedienTuebingen, Germany.,LEAD Graduate School and Research Network, Eberhard Karls University TuebingenTuebingen, Germany
| | - Karl Koschutnig
- Department of Psychology, University of GrazGraz, Austria.,BioTechMed-GrazGraz, Austria
| | - Daniel Wiesen
- Division of Neuropsychology, Center of Neurology, Hertie-Institute for Clinical Brain Research, University of TuebingenTuebingen, Germany
| | - Gabriela Zaiser
- Division of Neuropsychology, Center of Neurology, Hertie-Institute for Clinical Brain Research, University of TuebingenTuebingen, Germany
| | - Christa Neuper
- Department of Psychology, University of GrazGraz, Austria.,BioTechMed-GrazGraz, Austria.,Laboratory of Brain-Computer Interfaces, Institute for Neural Engineering, Graz University of TechnologyGraz, Austria
| | - Guilherme Wood
- Department of Psychology, University of GrazGraz, Austria.,BioTechMed-GrazGraz, Austria
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Kong F, Xue S, Wang X. Amplitude of low frequency fluctuations during resting state predicts social well-being. Biol Psychol 2016; 118:161-168. [PMID: 27263835 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsycho.2016.05.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2015] [Revised: 05/10/2016] [Accepted: 05/27/2016] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Feng Kong
- School of Psychology, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an, China.
| | - Song Xue
- State Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and Learning & IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Beijing, China
| | - Xu Wang
- Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China.
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Bilevicius E, Kolesar TA, Kornelsen J. Altered Neural Activity Associated with Mindfulness during Nociception: A Systematic Review of Functional MRI. Brain Sci 2016; 6:brainsci6020014. [PMID: 27104572 PMCID: PMC4931491 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci6020014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2016] [Revised: 04/12/2016] [Accepted: 04/14/2016] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To assess the neural activity associated with mindfulness-based alterations of pain perception. METHODS The Cochrane Central, EMBASE, Ovid Medline, PsycINFO, Scopus, and Web of Science databases were searched on 2 February 2016. Titles, abstracts, and full-text articles were independently screened by two reviewers. Data were independently extracted from records that included topics of functional neuroimaging, pain, and mindfulness interventions. RESULTS The literature search produced 946 total records, of which five met the inclusion criteria. Records reported pain in terms of anticipation (n = 2), unpleasantness (n = 5), and intensity (n = 5), and how mindfulness conditions altered the neural activity during noxious stimulation accordingly. CONCLUSIONS Although the studies were inconsistent in relating pain components to neural activity, in general, mindfulness was able to reduce pain anticipation and unpleasantness ratings, as well as alter the corresponding neural activity. The major neural underpinnings of mindfulness-based pain reduction consisted of altered activity in the anterior cingulate cortex, insula, and dorsolateral prefrontal cortex.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elena Bilevicius
- Department of Physiology and Pathophysiology, The University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB R3E 0J9, Canada.
| | - Tiffany A Kolesar
- Department of Physiology and Pathophysiology, The University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB R3E 0J9, Canada.
| | - Jennifer Kornelsen
- Department of Physiology and Pathophysiology, The University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB R3E 0J9, Canada.
- Department of Radiology, The University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB R3T 2N2, Canada.
- St. Boniface Hospital Research, Winnipeg, MB R2H 2A6, Canada.
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Huang L, Huang T, Zhen Z, Liu J. A test-retest dataset for assessing long-term reliability of brain morphology and resting-state brain activity. Sci Data 2016; 3:160016. [PMID: 26978040 PMCID: PMC4792176 DOI: 10.1038/sdata.2016.16] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2015] [Accepted: 02/19/2016] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
We present a test-retest dataset for evaluation of long-term reliability of measures from structural and resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (sMRI and rfMRI) scans. The repeated scan dataset was collected from 61 healthy adults in two sessions using highly similar imaging parameters at an interval of 103-189 days. However, as the imaging parameters were not completely identical, the reliability estimated from this dataset shall reflect the lower bounds of the true reliability of sMRI/rfMRI measures. Furthermore, in conjunction with other test-retest datasets, our dataset may help explore the impact of different imaging parameters on reliability of sMRI/rfMRI measures, which is especially critical for assessing datasets collected from multiple centers. In addition, intelligence quotient (IQ) was measured for each participant using Raven's Advanced Progressive Matrices. The data can thus be used for purposes other than assessing reliability of sMRI/rfMRI alone. For example, data from each single session could be used to associate structural and functional measures of the brain with the IQ metrics to explore brain-IQ association.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lijie Huang
- State Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and Learning &IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China
| | - Taicheng Huang
- State Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and Learning &IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China
| | - Zonglei Zhen
- State Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and Learning &IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China
| | - Jia Liu
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Applied Experimental Psychology, School of Psychology, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China
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Montero-Marin J, Tops M, Manzanera R, Piva Demarzo MM, Álvarez de Mon M, García-Campayo J. Mindfulness, Resilience, and Burnout Subtypes in Primary Care Physicians: The Possible Mediating Role of Positive and Negative Affect. Front Psychol 2015; 6:1895. [PMID: 26733900 PMCID: PMC4681844 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2015.01895] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2015] [Accepted: 11/23/2015] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Purpose: Primary care health professionals suffer from high levels of burnout. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the associations of mindfulness and resilience with the features of the burnout types (overload, lack of development, neglect) in primary care physicians, taking into account the potential mediating role of negative and positive affect. Methods: A cross-sectional design was used. Six hundred and twenty-two Spanish primary care physicians were recruited from an online survey. The Mindful Attention Awareness Scale (MAAS), Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC), Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS), and Burnout Clinical Subtype Questionnaire (BCSQ-12) questionnaires were administered. Polychoric correlation matrices were calculated. The unweighted least squares (ULS) method was used for developing structural equation modeling. Results: Mindfulness and resilience presented moderately high associations (φ = 0.46). Links were found between mindfulness and overload (γ = −0.25); resilience and neglect (γ = −0.44); mindfulness and resilience, and negative affect (γ = −0.30 and γ = −0.35, respectively); resilience and positive affect (γ = 0.70); negative affect and overload (β = 0.36); positive affect and lack of development (β = −0.16). The links between the burnout types reached high and positive values between overload and lack of development (β = 0.64), and lack of development and neglect (β = 0.52). The model was a very good fit to the data (GFI = 0.96; AGFI = 0.96; RMSR = 0.06; NFI = 0.95; RFI = 0.95; PRATIO = 0.96). Conclusions: Interventions addressing both mindfulness and resilience can influence burnout subtypes, but their impact may occur in different ways, potentially mediated by positive and negative affect. Both sorts of trainings could constitute possible tools against burnout; however, while mindfulness seems a suitable intervention for preventing its initial stages, resilience may be more effective for treating its advanced stages.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jesús Montero-Marin
- Faculty of Health and Sport Sciences, University of ZaragozaHuesca, Spain; Miguel Servet University Hospital, University of ZaragozaZaragoza, Spain
| | - Mattie Tops
- Department of Clinical Psychology, VU University Amsterdam Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | | | - Marcelo M Piva Demarzo
- Department of Preventive Medicine, Mente Aberta - Brazilian Center for Mindfulness and Health Promotion, Universidade Federal de São Paulo Sao Paulo, Brazil
| | | | - Javier García-Campayo
- Miguel Servet University Hospital, University of ZaragozaZaragoza, Spain; Primary Care Prevention and Health Promotion Research Network (RedIAPP)Zaragoza, Spain
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31
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Makovac E, Meeten F, Watson DR, Garfinkel SN, Critchley HD, Ottaviani C. Neurostructural abnormalities associated with axes of emotion dysregulation in generalized anxiety. NEUROIMAGE-CLINICAL 2015; 10:172-81. [PMID: 26759791 PMCID: PMC4683456 DOI: 10.1016/j.nicl.2015.11.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2015] [Revised: 11/25/2015] [Accepted: 11/29/2015] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Despite the high prevalence of generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) and its negative impact on society, its neurobiology remains obscure. This study characterizes the neurostructural abnormalities associated with key symptoms of GAD, focusing on indicators of impaired emotion regulation (excessive worry, poor concentration, low mindfulness, and physiological arousal). METHODS These domains were assessed in 19 (16 women) GAD patients and 19 healthy controls matched for age and gender, using questionnaires and a low demand behavioral task performed before and after an induction of perseverative cognition (i.e. worry and rumination). Continuous pulse oximetry was used to measure autonomic physiology (heart rate variability; HRV). Observed cognitive and physiological changes in response to the induction provided quantifiable data on emotional regulatory capacity. Participants underwent structural magnetic resonance imaging; voxel-based morphometry was used to quantify the relationship between gray matter volume and psychological and physiological measures. RESULTS Overall, GAD patients had lower gray matter volume than controls within supramarginal, precentral, and postcentral gyrus bilaterally. Across the GAD group, increased right amygdala volume was associated with prolonged reaction times on the tracking task (indicating increased attentional impairment following the induction) and lower scores on the 'Act with awareness' subscale of the Five Facets Mindfulness Questionnaire. Moreover in GAD, medial frontal cortical gray matter volume correlated positively with the 'Non-react mindfulness' facet. Lastly, smaller volumes of bilateral insula, bilateral opercular cortex, right supramarginal and precentral gyri, anterior cingulate and paracingulate cortex predicted the magnitude of autonomic change following the induction (i.e. a greater decrease in HRV). CONCLUSIONS Results distinguish neural structures associated with impaired capacity for cognitive, attentional and physiological disengagement from worry, suggesting that aberrant competition between these levels of emotional regulation is intrinsic to symptom expression in GAD.
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Key Words
- ACC, anterior cingulate cortex
- Attentional deficit
- BDI, Beck Depression Inventory
- DLPFC, dorsolateral prefrontal cortex
- DMPFC, dorsomedial prefrontal cortex
- FFMQ, Five Facets Mindfulness Questionnaire
- GAD, generalized anxiety disorder
- Generalized anxiety disorder
- HC, healthy controls
- HRV, heart rate variability
- Heart rate variability
- IBI, Inter-beat-intervals
- ICV, intra-cranial volume
- MNI, Montreal Neurological Institute
- Magnetic resonance imaging
- Mindfulness
- PCC, posterior cingulate cortex
- PFC, prefrontal cortex
- Perseverative cognition
- RMSSD, root mean square successive difference
- ROI, region-of-interest
- RT, reaction times
- SCID, Structured Clinical Interview for DSMIV
- STAI, State-Trait Anxiety Inventory
- VAS, visual-analogue scales
- VBM, voxel-based morphometry
- mOFC, medial orbitofrontal cortex
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Affiliation(s)
- Elena Makovac
- Neuroimaging Laboratory, IRCCS Santa Lucia Foundation, Rome, Italy; Clinical Imaging Sciences Centre, Brighton and Sussex Medical School, University of Sussex, Falmer, UK
| | - Frances Meeten
- Clinical Imaging Sciences Centre, Brighton and Sussex Medical School, University of Sussex, Falmer, UK; Kings College London, London, UK
| | - David R Watson
- Clinical Imaging Sciences Centre, Brighton and Sussex Medical School, University of Sussex, Falmer, UK
| | - Sarah N Garfinkel
- Clinical Imaging Sciences Centre, Brighton and Sussex Medical School, University of Sussex, Falmer, UK; Sackler Centre for Consciousness Science, University of Sussex, UK
| | - Hugo D Critchley
- Clinical Imaging Sciences Centre, Brighton and Sussex Medical School, University of Sussex, Falmer, UK; Sackler Centre for Consciousness Science, University of Sussex, UK; Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, Sussex, UK
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Mindful Emotion Regulation: Exploring the Neurocognitive Mechanisms behind Mindfulness. BIOMED RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2015; 2015:670724. [PMID: 26137490 PMCID: PMC4475519 DOI: 10.1155/2015/670724] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2014] [Revised: 11/26/2014] [Accepted: 12/01/2014] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
The purpose of this paper is to review some of the psychological and neural mechanisms behind mindfulness practice in order to explore the unique factors that account for its positive impact on emotional regulation and health. After reviewing the mechanisms of mindfulness and its effects on clinical populations we will consider how the practice of mindfulness contributes to the regulation of emotions. We argue that mindfulness has achieved effective outcomes in the treatment of anxiety, depression, and other psychopathologies through the contribution of mindfulness to emotional regulation. We consider the unique factors that mindfulness meditation brings to the process of emotion regulation that may account for its effectiveness. We review experimental evidence that points towards the unique effects of mindfulness specifically operating over and above the regulatory effects of cognitive reappraisal mechanisms. A neuroanatomical circuit that leads to mindful emotion regulation is also suggested. This paper thereby aims to contribute to proposed models of mindfulness for research and theory building by proposing a specific model for the unique psychological and neural processes involved in mindful detachment that account for the effects of mindfulness over and above the effects accounted for by other well-established emotional regulation processes such as cognitive reappraisal.
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Kong F, Ding K, Yang Z, Dang X, Hu S, Song Y, Liu J. Examining gray matter structures associated with individual differences in global life satisfaction in a large sample of young adults. Soc Cogn Affect Neurosci 2014; 10:952-60. [PMID: 25406366 DOI: 10.1093/scan/nsu144] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2014] [Accepted: 11/12/2014] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Although much attention has been directed towards life satisfaction that refers to an individual's general cognitive evaluations of his or her life as a whole, little is known about the neural basis underlying global life satisfaction. In this study, we used voxel-based morphometry to investigate the structural neural correlates of life satisfaction in a large sample of young healthy adults (n = 299). We showed that individuals' life satisfaction was positively correlated with the regional gray matter volume (rGMV) in the right parahippocampal gyrus (PHG), and negatively correlated with the rGMV in the left precuneus and left ventromedial prefrontal cortex. This pattern of results remained significant even after controlling for the effect of general positive and negative affect, suggesting a unique structural correlates of life satisfaction. Furthermore, we found that self-esteem partially mediated the association between the PHG volume and life satisfaction as well as that between the precuneus volume and global life satisfaction. Taken together, we provide the first evidence for the structural neural basis of life satisfaction, and highlight that self-esteem might play a crucial role in cultivating an individual's life satisfaction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Feng Kong
- State Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and Learning & IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Center for Collaboration and Innovation in Brain and Learning Sciences, and School of Psychology, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China State Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and Learning & IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Center for Collaboration and Innovation in Brain and Learning Sciences, and School of Psychology, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
| | - Ke Ding
- State Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and Learning & IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Center for Collaboration and Innovation in Brain and Learning Sciences, and School of Psychology, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China State Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and Learning & IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Center for Collaboration and Innovation in Brain and Learning Sciences, and School of Psychology, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
| | - Zetian Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and Learning & IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Center for Collaboration and Innovation in Brain and Learning Sciences, and School of Psychology, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China State Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and Learning & IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Center for Collaboration and Innovation in Brain and Learning Sciences, and School of Psychology, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
| | - Xiaobin Dang
- State Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and Learning & IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Center for Collaboration and Innovation in Brain and Learning Sciences, and School of Psychology, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China State Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and Learning & IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Center for Collaboration and Innovation in Brain and Learning Sciences, and School of Psychology, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
| | - Siyuan Hu
- State Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and Learning & IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Center for Collaboration and Innovation in Brain and Learning Sciences, and School of Psychology, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
| | - Yiying Song
- State Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and Learning & IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Center for Collaboration and Innovation in Brain and Learning Sciences, and School of Psychology, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China State Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and Learning & IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Center for Collaboration and Innovation in Brain and Learning Sciences, and School of Psychology, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
| | - Jia Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and Learning & IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Center for Collaboration and Innovation in Brain and Learning Sciences, and School of Psychology, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
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The network property of the thalamus in the default mode network is correlated with trait mindfulness. Neuroscience 2014; 278:291-301. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2014.08.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2014] [Revised: 08/07/2014] [Accepted: 08/07/2014] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
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