Meditation attenuates default-mode activity : A pilot study using ultra-high field 7 Tesla MRI
Journal article
Ganesan, Saampras, Moffat, Bradford, Van Dam, Nicholas, Lorenzetti, Valentina and Zalesky, Andrew. (2023). Meditation attenuates default-mode activity : A pilot study using ultra-high field 7 Tesla MRI. Brain Research Bulletin. 203, pp. 1-12. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.brainresbull.2023.110766
Authors | Ganesan, Saampras, Moffat, Bradford, Van Dam, Nicholas, Lorenzetti, Valentina and Zalesky, Andrew |
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Abstract | Objective: Mapping the neurobiology of meditation using 3 Tesla functional MRI (fMRI) has burgeoned recently. However, limitations in signal quality and neuroanatomical resolution have impacted reliability and precision of extant findings. Although ultra-high strength 7 Tesla MRI overcomes these limitations, investigation of meditation using 7 Tesla fMRI is still in its infancy. Methods: In this feasibility study, we scanned 10 individuals who were beginner meditators using 7 Tesla fMRI while they performed focused attention meditation and non-focused rest. We also measured and adjusted the fMRI signal for key physiological differences between meditation and rest. Finally, we explored the 2-week impact of the single fMRI meditation session on mindfulness, anxiety and focused attention attributes. Results: Group-level task fMRI analyses revealed significant reductions in activity during meditation relative to rest in Default-mode network hubs, i.e., antero-medial prefrontal and posterior cingulate cortices, precuneus, as well as visual and thalamic regions. These findings survived stringent statistical corrections for fluctuations in physiological responses which demonstrated significant differences (p < 0.05/n, Bonferroni controlled) between meditation and rest. Compared to baseline, State Mindfulness Scale (SMS) scores were significantly elevated (F = 8.16, p<0.05/n, Bonferroni controlled) following the fMRI meditation session, and were closely maintained at 2-week follow up. Conclusions: This pilot study establishes the feasibility and utility of investigating focused attention meditation using ultra-high strength (7 Tesla) fMRI, by supporting widespread evidence that focused attention meditation attenuates Default-mode activity responsible for self-referential processing. Future functional neuroimaging studies of meditation should control for physiological confounds and include behavioural assessments. |
Keywords | 3 Tesla functional MRI; 7 Tesla functional MRI; meditation; neurobiology; focused attention meditation; mindfulness; anxiety; focussed attention |
Year | 01 Jan 2023 |
Journal | Brain Research Bulletin |
Journal citation | 203, pp. 1-12 |
Publisher | Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory |
ISSN | 0361-9230 |
Digital Object Identifier (DOI) | https://doi.org/10.1016/j.brainresbull.2023.110766 |
Web address (URL) | https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0361923023001910 |
Open access | Published as ‘gold’ (paid) open access |
Research or scholarly | Research |
Page range | 1-12 |
Author's accepted manuscript | License File Access Level Open |
Publisher's version | License File Access Level Open |
Output status | Published |
Publication dates | |
Online | 22 Sep 2023 |
Publication process dates | |
Accepted | 18 Sep 2023 |
Deposited | 24 May 2024 |
Supplemental file | License File Access Level Open |
Additional information | © 2023 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. |
This is an open access article under the CC BY license ( http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ ). | |
Pre-print, not peer-reviewed, available from Bio rXiv https://doi.org/10.1101/2023.01.02.522524 / https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2023.01.02.522524v1 | |
Place of publication | United States |
https://acuresearchbank.acu.edu.au/item/907yw/meditation-attenuates-default-mode-activity-a-pilot-study-using-ultra-high-field-7-tesla-mri
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Author's accepted manuscript
AM_Lorenzetti_2023_Meditation_attenuates_default-mode_activity_a.pdf | |
License: CC BY 4.0 | |
File access level: Open |
Publisher's version
OA_Lorenzetti_2023_Meditation_attenuates_default-mode_activity_a.pdf | |
License: CC BY 4.0 | |
File access level: Open |
Supplemental file
SM_Lorenzetti_Meditation_attenuates_default_mode_activity_A.pdf | |
License: CC BY 4.0 | |
File access level: Open |
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