Mindfulness Meditation Training and Executive Control Network Resting State Functional Connectivity: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Abstract

Objective Mindfulness meditation training has been previously shown to enhance behavioral measures of executive control (e.g. attention, working memory, cognitive control), but the neural mechanisms underlying these improvements are largely unknown. Here, we test whether mindfulness training interventions foster executive control by strengthening functional connections between dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (dlPFC) - a hub of the executive control network – and frontoparietal regions that coordinate executive function. Methods Thirty-five adults with elevated levels of psychological distress participated in a 3 day RCT of intensive mindfulness meditation or relaxation training. Participants completed a resting state fMRI scan before and after the intervention. We tested whether mindfulness meditation training increased resting state functional connectivity (rsFC) between dlPFC and frontoparietal control network regions. Results Left dlPFC showed increased connectivity to the right inferior frontal gyrus (T = 3.74), right middle frontal gyrus (T = 3.98), right supplementary eye field (T = 4.29), right parietal cortex (T = 4.44), and left middle temporal gyrus (T = 3.97; all p<0.05) following mindfulness training relative to the relaxation control. Right dlPFC showed increased connectivity to right middle frontal gyrus (T = 4.97, p < 0.05). Conclusions We report that mindfulness training increases rsFC between dlPFC and dorsal network (superior parietal lobule, supplementary eye field, MFG) and ventral network (right IFG, middle temporal/angular gyrus) regions. These findings extend previous work showing increased functional connectivity amongst brain regions associated with executive function during active meditation by identifying specific neural circuits in which rsFC is enhanced by a mindfulness intervention in individuals with high levels of psychological distress. Trial Registration Clinicaltrials.gov (#NCT01628809)

Behavioral interventions in health neuroscience

“…71 For example, there is initial evidence that mindfulness interventions can increase resting state functional connectivity of regions known to be important in executive control and top-down regulation. 72,73 We recently showed that mindfulness training increases functional connectivity at rest (i.e., the PCC in the default mode network) with regulatory regions of the PFC (DLPFC), relative to a relaxation training comparison group. 72 The DLPFC is a region implicated in emotion regulation, 63 and as such this connectivity pattern may represent a potential strengthening of top-down executive control after mindfulness training.…”

A neurobehavioral account for decentering as the salve for the distressed mind

“…, suggesting increased dACC activity MBIs also lead to enduring changes in FPCN and DAN, including increased activity in FPCN (dlPFC and posterior parietal cortex [PPC]) during executive processing[65] and emotion regulation tasks[66] following MBSR. Three-days of intensive meditation produced increased connectivity between FPCN, DAN, and VAN[67]. Taken together, these findings suggest MBIs may lead to enduring increases in activity and/or coordination of SN, FPCN, and DAN that possibly underlie increased capacity for meta-awareness of and disengagement with spontaneous internal thoughts and shifting attention toward presentmoment physical sensations[31].Disidentification.…”

“…Although speculative, taken together, these early findings are suggestive of a mindfulness-entrained brain network configuration characterized by coordinated increased within-network connectivity in FPCN (73) and SN [67] increased cross-network connectivity in FPCN-DMN [27,76,79,80] and FPCN-DAN [67], and altered patterns of cross-network connectivity between DMN and SN [39,76,80] [62,85], increased dmPFC-IPL connectivity [78], and increased dmPFC-insula anti-correlation [86]. Long-term meditation and MBIs also appear to lead to enduring alterations in the MTL-DMN, including greater hippocampal grey matter density [52, [87][88][89] and increased resting connectivity between hippocampus and PCC [85].…”

The Feasibility and Effectiveness of a New Practical Multidisciplinary Treatment for Low-Back Pain: A Randomized Controlled Trial

“…Furthermore, body scans-mostly integrated in a mindfulness-based stress reduction program (MBSR [46])-may support the restructuring of the brain volume and biochemical deteriorations that affect pain patients [47]. As it was shown that MBSR is powerful in increasing stress resilience [48], this association may additionally reinforce the intended pathways through the combination of exercise and distraction [49]. Because stress and pain stimuli are processed in the same brain areas, additional effects on central and peripheral sensitization may therefore be expected [14].…”