Cited by 36Mindfulness and Compassion InterventionsNeural and Behavioral Psychology StudiesFunctional Brain Connectivity Studies

Dispositional mindfulness is predicted by structural development of the insula during late adolescence

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Friedel, S., Whittle, S.L., Vijayakumar, N., Simmons, J.G., Byrne, M.L., Schwartz, O.S., Allen, N.B.·2015·Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience

Abstract

• Adolescence is a critical period for the development of self-regulatory abilities. • The cultivation of mindfulness has been associated with improved self-regulation. • We examined brain development and dispositional mindfulness in adolescence. • Adolescents with higher levels of mindfulness demonstrated less thinning in the left anterior insula. Adolescence is a critical period of development, in which the increasing social and cognitive demands of independence need to be met by enhanced self-regulatory abilities. The cultivation of mindfulness has been associated with improved self-regulation in adult populations, and it is theorized that one neurodevelopmental mechanism that supports this capacity is the development of the prefrontal cortex. The current study examined the neurodevelopmental mechanisms associated with dispositional mindfulness in adolescence. Using a longitudinal within-persons design, 82 participants underwent structural magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) assessments at approximately ages 16 and 19, and also completed self-reported measurements of mindfulness at age 19. It was hypothesized that adolescents who demonstrated greater thinning of frontal cortical regions between the age of 16 and 19 would exhibit higher dispositional mindfulness levels at age 19. Results indicated that, contrary to predictions, adolescents with higher levels of mindfulness demonstrated less thinning in the left anterior insula. By contrast, higher IQ was associated with greater thinning of the right caudal middle frontal and right superior frontal regions. The involvement of insula development in mindfulness is consistent with a direct role for this structure in managing self-regulation, and in doing so concords with recent models of self-referential interoceptive awareness.

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Crossref · 10.1016/j.dcn.2015.07.001

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  • Neuroplasticity changes in the aINS occur not only in adults but also in adolescents.

    “Friedel et al. (2015) have shown that these neuroplasticity changes are true not only in adults but also in adolescents.”

    From Mindfulness, Interoception, and the Body: A Contemporary Perspective (2019) · cites this paper as Friedel et al., 2015

    The Results report that less thinning of the left anterior insula between ages 16 and 19 predicted higher dispositional mindfulness. The Discussion proposes neuroplastic change as a possible explanation, but does not establish that the observed change was neuroplastic; it describes the adult findings as prior research. (LLM, conf=0.86)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured
  • Self-regulation may provide a distinct construct with a measurable neurobiological imprint within the insula.

    “Self-regulation may provide a distinct construct with a measurable neurobiological imprint within the insula (Friedel et al., 2015).”

    From Mindfulness, Interoception, and the Body: A Contemporary Perspective (2019) · cites this paper as Friedel et al., 2015

    The Discussion suggests that the insula may help maintain self-regulation during adolescence. The Results, however, link insula thinning to dispositional mindfulness, even after controlling for inhibitory control; they do not establish self-regulation itself as a distinct construct with a measured insular imprint. Page numbers are unavailable in our copy. (LLM, conf=0.83)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured
  • Dispositional mindfulness is believed to enhance self-regulation, and self-regulation is linked to the interoceptive network, which mindfulness deliberately cultivates.

    “Given that dispositional mindfulness is believed to enhance self-regulation (Brown and Ryan, 2003; Lakey et al., 2007) and that self-regulation is linked to the interoceptive network – which mindfulness deliberately cultivates, Friedel et al. (2015) suggest a more vital role for the insula in interoception and the maintenance of self-regulation, which is a defining feature in much of the”

    From Mindfulness, Interoception, and the Body: A Contemporary Perspective (2019) · cites this paper as Friedel et al., 2015

    The Discussion says the findings suggest a more vital role for the insula in maintaining self-regulation during adolescence. The paper also links the insula to interoceptive awareness, but does not suggest a newly greater role for it in interoception or say that mindfulness deliberately cultivates an interoceptive network. (LLM, conf=0.84)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured
  • Interoception plays a central role in the maintenance of self-regulation, which is a distinct feature in the mindfulness literature and provides a measurable neurobiological imprint within the insula.

    “Friedel et al. (2015) argue that the interoception plays a central role in the maintenance of self-regulation, which is a distinct feature in the mindfulness literature and provides a measurable neurobiological imprint within the insula (Friedel et al., 2015).”

    From Mindfulness, Interoception, and the Body: A Contemporary Perspective (2019) · cites this paper as Friedel et al., 2015

    The paper’s discussion proposes a role for the insula in adolescent self-regulation, and its results associate less left anterior insula thinning with higher dispositional mindfulness. It describes interoceptive awareness as a theorized regulatory mechanism, but does not establish that interoception centrally maintains self-regulation or that the measured insula change is an imprint of interoception itself. The indexed passages provide section labels but no page numbers. (LLM, conf=0.84)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured
  • Structural development of the anterior insula may contribute to the development of dispositional mindfulness.

    ““While evidence for anterior insula involvement in adult long-term meditator has been interpreted to indicate an effect of mindfulness meditation on insula structure and function, the current results suggest that structural development of the anterior insula may contribute to the development of dispositional mindfulness” (pp. 67).”

    From Mindfulness, Interoception, and the Body: A Contemporary Perspective (2019) · cites this paper as Friedel et al., 2015

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Cited by

Sorted by citations

Authors
Friedel, S., Whittle, S. L., Vijayakumar, N., Simmons, J. G., Byrne, M. L., Schwartz, O. S., & Allen, N. B.
Affiliations
The University of Melbourne (AU)
Corresponding author
Allen, N.B.
Venue
Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2015-08
Volume
14
Pages
62-70
ISSN
1878-9293 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W840466268
Cited by
36
References
37
Citations by year
2026: 2 · 2025: 5 · 2024: 6 · 2023: 2 · 2022: 3 · 2021: 6 · 2020: 1 · 2019: 4 · 2017: 5 · 2016: 1 · 2013: 1
FWCI
2.48
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Minerva Access (University of Melbourne) (submittedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
  • DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion)
  • Figshare (submittedVersion, cc-by)
Funders
  • National Health and Medical Research Council (350241)
  • Australian Research Council (1007716, DP0878136)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Mindfulness and Compassion Interventions
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Neural and Behavioral Psychology Studies
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Functional Brain Connectivity Studies
Keywords
trait mindfulness, insula, anterior insula, cortical thinning, adolescence, self-regulation, brain development, interoceptive awareness, self-referential processing, frontal cortex, IQ, superior frontal cortex
MeSH terms
Self-Control, Adolescent, Awareness, Cerebral Cortex, Child, Female, Humans, Intelligence Tests, Longitudinal Studies, Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Male, Neuropsychological Tests, Temperament, Prefrontal Cortex, Adolescent Development, Young Adult, Mindfulness

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