Mindfulness meditation training alters stress-related amygdala resting state functional connectivity: a randomized controlled trial

Abstract

Recent studies indicate that mindfulness meditation training interventions reduce stress and improve stress-related health outcomes, but the neural pathways for these effects are unknown. The present research evaluates whether mindfulness meditation training alters resting state functional connectivity (rsFC) of the amygdala, a region known to coordinate stress processing and physiological stress responses. We show in an initial discovery study that higher perceived stress over the past month is associated with greater bilateral amygdala-subgenual anterior cingulate cortex (sgACC) rsFC in a sample of community adults (n = 130). A follow-up, single-blind randomized controlled trial shows that a 3-day intensive mindfulness meditation training intervention (relative to a well-matched 3-day relaxation training intervention without a mindfulness component) reduced right amygdala-sgACC rsFC in a sample of stressed unemployed community adults (n = 35). Although stress may increase amygdala-sgACC rsFC, brief training in mindfulness meditation could reverse these effects. This work provides an initial indication that mindfulness meditation training promotes functional neuroplastic changes, suggesting an amygdala-sgACC pathway for stress reduction effects.

Effect of Mindfullness Meditation on Stress Level and Coping Mechanism in Cancer Patients

“…This increased activity in the brain causes memory process improvement and emotional regulation. The same thing was also found by Taren et al (2015), which examined 35 respondents with moderate to severe stress levels. Prior to the intervention all respondents performed neuroimaging examinations, indicating the occurrence of bilateral enlargement of the resting state Functional Connectivity (rsFC) in the anterior amberglut subgenual cingulate cortex (sgACC), which is an area that serves to coordinate the processing of stress.…”

Mindfulness Interventions

“…We have provided some initial supportive evidence for this neural mechanistic account with a RCT of mindfulness vs relaxation training in stressed unemployed adults (Creswell et al 2016, Taren et al 2015. Specifically, we showed that a mindfulness meditation retreat (relative to a well-matched relaxation retreat without a mindfulness component), increased resting state functional connectivity of the default mode network with stress regulatory areas of prefrontal cortex (dorsolateral prefrontal cortex), while also decreasing stress-related resting state functional connectivity of the amygdala with subgenual anterior cingulate cortex.…”

“…Specifically, we showed that a mindfulness meditation retreat (relative to a well-matched relaxation retreat without a mindfulness component), increased resting state functional connectivity of the default mode network with stress regulatory areas of prefrontal cortex (dorsolateral prefrontal cortex), while also decreasing stress-related resting state functional connectivity of the amygdala with subgenual anterior cingulate cortex. Importantly, we describe some initial associations linking these brain changes with reduced stress biomarkers (i.e., cortisol, circulating Interleukin-6) at 4-month follow-up (Creswell et al 2016, Taren et al 2015.…”

Optimizing performance through intrinsic motivation and attention for learning: The OPTIMAL theory of motor learning

“…Mindfulness, a state of non-judgmental awareness of the present moment (Brown & Ryan, 2003), has been linked to reductions in stress and negative affect (Taren, Gianaros, Greco, Lindsay, Fairgrieve, Brown et al, 2015). Moreover, mindfulness training has been shown to lead to improved decision making (Hafenbrack, Kinias, & Barsade, 2013).…”