Of note, our study is the only study to date which has analysed the difference of the brain network between Vipassana meditators and controls during the resting state and using source-level magnetoencephalography.

Importantly, after FDR correction, our results showed that the right hippocampus displays a higher degree in the theta band with respect to controls.

Based on a MRI template, the volume conduction model proposed by Nolte [39] was considered and the Linearly

The MEG system was developed by the National Research Council, Pozzuoli, Naples, at the Institute of Applied Sciences and Intelligent Systems “E. Caianiello.” The system is equipped with 163 magnetometers, including 9 reference sensors that are located further away from the helmet [31]

mean years of meditation experience 6.41 (±SE 1.4)

scientific studies have begun to focus on one of the main open awareness or mindfulness meditations,

The scalp map shows electrode sites where this three-way interaction was significant between 420 and 440ms.

The developmental of new methods to probe different aspects of connectivity (both structural and functional) will be extremely valuable in furthering this line of inquiry.

illustrates

The attentional blink phenomenon

Another study [5] recently examined the idea that OM meditation decreases elaborative stimulus processing in a longitudinal study using scalp-recorded brain potentials and performance in an attentional blink task. The consequence of decreased elaborative stimulus processing is that the subject is able to better attend moment-to-moment to the stream of stimuli to which they are exposed and less likely to “get stuck” on any one stimulus

The findings support the idea that, after extensive FA meditation training, minimal effort is necessary to sustain attentional focus.

This inverted u-shaped function resembles the learning curve associated with skill acquisition in other domains of expertise, such as language acquisition.

the mental training of meditation is fundamentally no different than other forms of skill acquisition that can induce plastic changes in the brain

Here we focus on Focused Attention (FA) meditation and Open Monitoring (OM) meditation.

The paired t-test within the MBSR group identified a small cluster in the left hippocampus with increased gray matter concentration

MBSR participants reported spending an average 22.6 hours (SD: 6.3 hours) engaged in formal homework exercises over the 8-week course (average = 27 minutes per day)

Anatomical MRI images from sixteen healthy, meditation-naïve participants were obtained before and after they underwent the eight-week program.

Changes in gray matter concentration were investigated using voxel-based morphometry.

Cross-sectional studies have established that differences in regional gray matter are associated with performance abilities (Mechelli et al., 2004; Milad et al., 2005), suggesting that an increase in gray matter corresponds to improved functioning in the relevant area. Studies of experienced meditators have also suggested the possibility of structural plasticity, but their cross-sectional designs did not exclude the possibility of pre-existing group differences, precluding causal conclusions.

Recently, several cross-sectional anatomical MRI studies have demonstrated that experienced meditators exhibit a different gray matter morphometry in multiple brain regions when compared to non-meditating individuals

Therapeutic interventions that incorporate training in mindfulness meditation have become increasingly popular, but to date, little is known about neural mechanisms associated with these interventions.

Mindfulness meditation has been reported to produce positive effects on psychological well-being that extend beyond the time the individual is formally meditating. Over the last three decades mindfulness meditation practices have been increasingly incorporated into psychotherapeutic programs, to take advantage of these benefits (cf., Baer, 2003; Grossman et al., 2004).

The results suggest that participation in MBSR is associated with changes in gray matter concentration in brain regions involved in learning and memory processes, emotion regulation, self-referential processing, and perspective taking.

IBMT involves learning that requires experience and explicit instruction. To ensure appropriate experience, coaches (qualified instructors) are trained to help novices practice IBMT properly. Instructors received training on how to interact with experimental and control groups to make sure they understand the training program exactly.

Although no direct measures of brain changes were used in this study, some previous studies suggest that changes in brain networks can occur. Thomas et al. (40) showed that, in rats, one short experience of acute exposure to psychosocial stress reduced both short- and long-term survival of newborn hippocampal neurons. Similarly, the human brain is sensitive to short experience. Naccache et al. (41) showed that the subliminal presentation of emotional words (<100 ms) modulates the activity of the amygdala at a long latency and triggers long-lasting cerebral processes (41).

However, the lengthy training required has made it difficult to use random assignment of participants to conditions to confirm these findings.

shows significantly better attention and control of stress

a group

showed greater improvement

may be easier to teach to novices because they would not have to struggle so hard to control their thoughts.

Thought control is achieved gradually through posture and relaxation, body–mind harmony, and balance with the help of the coach rather than by making the trainee attempt an internal struggle to control thoughts in accordance with instruction.

The main effect of the training session was significant only for the executive network [F(1,78) = 9.859; P < 0.01]. More importantly, the group × session interaction was significant for the executive network [F(1,78) = 10.839; P < 0.01], indicating that the before vs. after difference in the conflict resolution score was significant only for the trained group

Performance of the ANT after 5 days of IBMT or control. Error bars indicate 1 SD. Vertical axis indicates the difference in mean reaction time between the congruent and incongruent flankers. The higher scores show less efficient resolution of conflict.