Studying the precuneus reveals structure-function-affect correlation in long-term meditators
Aviva Berkovich-Ohana, Edna Furman-Haran, Rafael Malach, Amos Arieli, Michal Harel, Sharon Gilaie-Dotan
bioRxiv Preprint Server October 30, 2019 preprint DOI: 10.1101/822056 via bioRxiv
Summary
AI-generated from the abstractMeditation research has rarely examined how brain structure, function, and self-reports relate. This study demonstrates such a relationship for Mindfulness meditation (MM), which aims to reduce thought-related processes and enhance bodily awareness, thereby reducing identification with thought content and deconstructing maladaptive self-schema. The authors hypothesized that the structure of default mode network (DMN) regions, associated with spontaneous thoughts and self-representation, would negatively correlate with MM experience and self-reported positive affect, while positively correlating with DMN resting-state function.
Study at a glance
| Characteristics | Empirical study |
|---|---|
| Population | Meditation practitioners |
| Intervention | Mindfulness meditation |
| Citations | 2 |
| Key finding | The structure of default mode network regions negatively correlates with mindfulness meditation experience and self-reported positive affect, and positively correlates with DMN resting-state function. |
Abstract
Understanding the relationship between brain structure, function and self-reports has hardly been addressed until now in meditation research. Here we demonstrate such relationship, using Mindfulness meditation (MM). MM aims to reduce thought-related processes and enhance bodily awareness, thereby reducing identification with thought content and deconstructing maladaptive self-schema. We thus hypothesized that structure of the default mode network (DMN) regions, associated with spontaneous thoughts and self-representation, would negatively correlate with MM experience and self-reported positive affect, while positively correlating with DMN resting-state function.