Controlling the Temporal Structure of Brain Oscillations by Focused Attention Meditation

Abstract

Our focus of attention naturally fluctuates between different sources of information even when we desire to focus on a single object. Focused attention (FA) meditation is associated with greater control over this process, yet the neuronal mechanisms underlying this ability are not entirely understood. Here, we hypothesize that the capacity of attention to transiently focus and swiftly change relates to the critical dynamics emerging when neuronal systems balance at a point of instability between order and disorder. In FA meditation, however, the ability to stay focused is trained, which may be associated with a more homogeneous brain state. To test this hypothesis, we applied analytical tools from criticality theory to EEG in meditation practitioners and meditation-naïve participants from two independent labs. We show that in practitioners-but not in controls-FA meditation strongly suppressed long-range temporal correlations (LRTC) of neuronal oscillations relative to eyes-closed rest with remarkable consistency across frequency bands and scalp locations. The ability to reduce LRTC during meditation increased after one year of additional training and was associated with the subjective experience of fully engaging one's attentional resources, also known as absorption. Sustained practice also affected normal waking brain dynamics as reflected in increased LRTC during an eyes-closed rest state, indicating that brain dynamics are altered beyond the meditative state. Taken together, our findings suggest that the framework of critical brain dynamics is promising for understanding neuronal mechanisms of meditative states and, specifically, we have identified a clear electrophysiological correlate of the FA meditation state. K E Y W O R D Sabsorption, criticality, long-range temporal correlations, meditation

Inter-brain Synchronization in the Practice of Tibetan Monastic Debate

“…This increase in mid-frontal theta power correlates with meditation experience (Aftanas and Golocheikine 2001;Cahn and Polich 2006). Also, putatively associated with concentration during focused attention meditation are reports of increased long-range temporal correlations in EEG activity (Irrmischer et al 2018). The current findings are consistent with the idea that monastic debate can be classified as a form of meditation that trains attention, although further behavioral evidence is necessary to back up that claim.…”

Characterizing the Dynamical Complexity underlying Meditation

“…Furthermore, Gard and colleagues demonstrated using graph theory that yoga and meditation practitioners showed greater network integration than controls during rest [35]. In addition, the increase of metastability in meditators during resting-state is congruent with the increase of the temporal complexity of oscillations during rest in meditators observed in the previously mentioned study [34]. Moreover, studies applying 140 a dynamical functional connectivity approach found that individuals with high trait mindfulness, transitioned more frequently between brain states at rest [13,36].…”

“…Our results showing an increase of intrinsic ignition during rest compare to meditation are consistent with recent studies on information propagation across the brain. Irrmischer and colleagues found a shift from more complex brain dynamics during rest to a state of reduced information prop-135 agation during meditation, importantly, only in meditators [34]. Furthermore, Gard and colleagues demonstrated using graph theory that yoga and meditation practitioners showed greater network integration than controls during rest [35].…”

Intrinsic activity temporal structure reactivity to behavioural state change is correlated with depressive symptoms

“…Similar to opening the eyes, a reduction in LRTC can also seen when people engage in a particular task, as compared to a task-free state (He, 2011;Irrmischer et al, 2018bIrrmischer et al, , 2018a.…”