Cited by 335Mindfulness and Compassion InterventionsAdvanced Neuroimaging Techniques and ApplicationsFunctional Brain Connectivity Studies

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Mechanisms of white matter changes induced by meditation

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Tang, Yi-Yuan, Lu, Qilin, Fan, Ming, Yang, Yihong, Posner, Michael I.·2012·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences

DOI 10.1073/pnas.1207817109PMC PMC3387117

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Abstract

Using diffusion tensor imaging, several recent studies have shown that training results in changes in white matter efficiency as measured by fractional anisotropy (FA). In our work, we found that a form of mindfulness meditation, integrative body-mind training (IBMT), improved FA in areas surrounding the anterior cingulate cortex after 4-wk training more than controls given relaxation training. Reductions in radial diffusivity (RD) have been interpreted as improved myelin but reductions in axial diffusivity (AD) involve other mechanisms, such as axonal density. We now report that after 4-wk training with IBMT, both RD and AD decrease accompanied by increased FA, indicating improved efficiency of white matter involves increased myelin as well as other axonal changes. However, 2-wk IBMT reduced AD, but not RD or FA, and improved moods. Our results demonstrate the time-course of white matter neuroplasticity in short-term meditation. This dynamic pattern of white matter change involving the anterior cingulate cortex, a part of the brain network related to self-regulation, could provide a means for intervention to improve or prevent mental disorders.

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“…importance in cognition ( Dempster et al., 017; Minatogawa-Chang et al., 2009; Zimmerman et al., 2006 ), brain lasticity ( Jiang et al., 2015; Tang et al., 2012; Zatorre et al., 2012 ), neuodegeneration ( Eshagi et al., 2018; Gellersen et al., 2017; Vercellino ∗ Corresponding author at:…”
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The effect of mindfulness meditation on dental anxiety during implant surgery: a randomized controlled clinical trial
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“One of the most intriguing findings in the field of brain structure and meditation is the minimal number of hours of meditation practice needed to induce neuroplastic changes 22,59,60 .”
Background
Meditation and the Brain in Health and Disease
Fox, K. C. R., & Cahn, B. R. (2020) · Oxford University Press eBooks · doi:10.1093/oxfordhb/9780198808640.013.23 · Cited by 16
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“Even short period of integrative body–mind training (IBMT) for 4 weeks (Tang et al., 2010) and 11h (Tang et al., 2012) increases FA in anterior corona radiata associated with anterior cingulate cortex and genu of corpus callosum (CC).”
Decision Making as a Learned Skill in Mice and Humans
Posner, M. I., Weible, A. P., Voelker, P., Rothbart, M. K., & Niell, C. M. (2022) · Frontiers in Neuroscience · doi:10.3389/fnins.2022.834701 · Cited by 16
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Cortical reorganization processes in meditation naïve participants induced by 7 weeks focused attention meditation training
Lenhart, L., Steiger, R., Waibel, M., Mangesius, S., Grams, A. E., Singewald, N., & Gizewski, E. R. (2020) · Behavioural Brain Research · doi:10.1016/j.bbr.2020.112828 · Cited by 20
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“In research led by Posner (Tang et al., 2012) neural activity of this part of the brain changed and “improved connectivity” with other regions of the brain.”
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Rethinking Future Directions of the Mindfulness Field
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“In the study of diffusion tensor imaging (Tang et al., 2012), 2-week IBMT (not the relaxation training) showed significant reductions in anger-hostility, confusion-bewilderment, depression-dejection, fatigueinertia, and total mood disturbance in Profile of Mood States.”
BackgroundSelf-citation
Mindfulness Meditation Intervention Alters Neurophysiological Symptoms of Anxiety and Depression in Preadolescents
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Influential
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“81 More controlled studies of the acute and long-term effects of mindfulness meditation on functional and structural brain connectivity are needed to support our integrative network model of mindfulness-centered regulation.”
Mindfulness Meditation: Can Benefit Glaucoma Patients?
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Meditation and the brain in health and diseasePreprint
Fox, K. C. R., & Cahn, B. R. (2018) · MindRxiv (OSF Preprints) · doi:10.31231/osf.io/m2sez · Cited by 13
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Corpus Callosum Microstructural Tract Integrity Relates to Longer Emotion Recognition Reaction Time in People with Schizophrenia
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“This finding is of clinical importance as there is evidence showing that pharmacological intervention improves white matter integrity within the genu of the CC [56]; with other research showing psychological intervention improves frontal white matter tract integrity [89,90].”
Background
The effect of mindfulness-based intervention on neurobehavioural functioning and its association with white-matter microstructural changes in preterm young adolescents
Siffredi, V., Liverani, M. C., Ville, D. V. D., Freitas, L. G. A., Tolsa, C. B., Hüppi, P. S., & Leuchter, R. H. (2023) · Scientific Reports · doi:10.1038/s41598-023-29205-8 · Cited by 15
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Neurobiology of Wisdom
Lee, E., & Jeste, D. V. (2019) · Cambridge University Press eBooks · doi:10.1017/9781108568272.005 · Cited by 14
“…to increase telomerase activity, which is associated with improved health and longevity (Schutte & Malouff, 2014), and also increase white matter connectivity (Laneri et al., 2015; Tang, Lu, Fan, Yang, & Posner, 2012) as well as produce gray matter changes (Fox et al., 2016; Fox et al., 2014).”
Neuroanatomical variations as a function of experience in a complex daily task: A VBM and DTI study on driving experience
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Structural Integrity in the Genu of Corpus Callosum Predicts Conflict-induced Functional Connectivity Between Medial Frontal Cortex and Right Posterior Parietal Cortex
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“The current findings suggest a potential approach for future studies to examine the neural basis of the abnormal functional connectivity observed in depressive disorder with stress and depression (Tang et al., 2012).”
Background
Effects of the Mindfulness-Based Blood Pressure Reduction (MB-BP) program on depression and neural structural connectivity
Polcari, J. J., Cali, R. J., Nephew, B. C., Lu, S., Rashkovskii, M., Wu, J., Saadeh, F., Loucks, E., & King, J. A. (2022) · Journal of Affective Disorders · doi:10.1016/j.jad.2022.05.059 · Cited by 13
Mind-body practices in chronic inflammatory arthritis
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Multimodal Sustained Attention Superiority in Concentrative Meditators Compared to Nonmeditators
Badart, P., McDowall, J., & Prime, S. L. (2017) · Mindfulness · doi:10.1007/s12671-017-0822-y · Cited by 11
Meditation-induced neuroplastic changes of the prefrontal network are associated with reduced valence perception in older people
Chau, B. K. H., Keuper, K., Lo, M., So, K., Chan, C. C. H., & Lee, T. M. C. (2018) · Brain and Neuroscience Advances · doi:10.1177/2398212818771822 · Cited by 13
“Two studies that involved young adults revealed enhancements in the white matter microstructure in the anterior corona radiata after a short MED of less than 4 weeks (Tang et al., 2010, 2012).”
BackgroundResult
Validation of the Polish version of the Short Form of the Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire
Radoń, S., & Rydzewska, M. (2018) · Roczniki Psychologiczne · doi:10.18290/rpsych.2018.21.3-5 · Cited by 12
“, 2011; Pagnoni & Cekic, 2007; Luders, Cherbuin, & Kurth, 2015) and thicker white matter (Tang et al., 2012), and there are also differences in other regions (see Saggar et al.”
Background
The Effect of Meditation on Comprehension of Statements About One-Self and Others: A Pilot ERP and Behavioral Study
Savostyanov, A. N., Tamozhnikov, S. S., Bocharov, A. V., Сапрыгин, А. Е., Matushkin, Y., Lashin, S. A., Kolpakova, G., Sudobin, K., & Knyazev, G. G. (2020) · Frontiers in Human Neuroscience · doi:10.3389/fnhum.2019.00437 · Cited by 14
Association of white matter volume with sleep quality: a voxel-based morphometry study
Bai, Y., Zhang, L., Liu, C., Cui, X., Li, D., & Yin, H. (2021) · Brain Imaging and Behavior · doi:10.1007/s11682-021-00569-7 · Cited by 13
“Meanwhile, prior studies suggested that short-term training could modulate brain WM structural changes (Tang et al., 2012).”
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On evidence, biases and confounding factors: Response to commentaries
Thomas, C., & Baker, C. I. (2012) · NeuroImage · doi:10.1016/j.neuroimage.2012.11.009 · Cited by 11
“We focused on 20 published MRI studies, but it is worth noting that since our review was accepted for publication, at least nine more have been published (Bueti et al., 2012; Colom et al., 2012; Gryga et al., 2012; Mackey et al., 2012; Mårtensson et al., 2012; Sagi et al., 2012; Schlegel et al., 2012; Tang et al., 201…”
BackgroundMethod
Mindfulness Interventions and Surveys as Tools for Positive Emotional Regulation During COVID-19: A Scoping Review
López-Ramón, M. F., Campos, V. M., Alonso-Esteban, Y., Navarro‐Pardo, E., & Marín, F. A. (2023) · Mindfulness · doi:10.1007/s12671-023-02234-0 · Cited by 14
“In addition, several neuroscientific studies have reported adaptive changes in brain function and structure (i.e., functional and neural plasticity) related to mindfulness training (e.g., Chen et al., 2022; Hölzel et al., 2011; Tang et al., 2012).”
Background
Turning Two Uninvited Guests Into Prominent Speakers: Toward a Dynamic Culture Neuroscience
Christopoulos, G. I., & Hong, Y. (2013) · Psychological Inquiry · doi:10.1080/1047840x.2013.766951 · Cited by 10
Three potential neurovascular pathways driving the benefits of mindfulness meditation for older adults
Pommy, J. M., Smart, C. M., Bryant, A. M., & Wang, Y. (2023) · Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience · doi:10.3389/fnagi.2023.1207012 · Cited by 11
A critical analysis of cultural metaphors and static cultural frameworks with insight from cultural neuroscience and evolutionary biology
Nguyen-Phuong-Mai, M. (2017) · Cross Cultural & Strategic Management · doi:10.1108/ccsm-07-2016-0144 · Cited by 16
“, 2004), meditate (Tang et al., 2012), or dance (Calvo-Merino et al.”
Background

Authors: Tang, Y.-Y., Lu, Q., Fan, M., Yang, Y., & Posner, M. I.
Affiliations: Texas Tech University (US)
Dalian University of Technology (CN)
Institute of Basic Medical Sciences of the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences (CN)
National Institutes of Health (US)
University of Oregon (US)
ORCID: Tang, Yi-Yuan
Lu, Qilin
Yang, Yihong
Posner, Michael I.
Venue: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences
Publisher: National Academy of Sciences
Published: 2012-06-11
Volume: 109
Issue: 26
Pages: 10570-10574
ISSN: 0027-8424 (ISSN-L)
1091-6490
DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1207817109
PMC: PMC3387117
OpenAlex: W1988224232
Cited by: 335
References: 46
Citations by year: 2026: 9 · 2025: 9 · 2024: 13 · 2023: 26 · 2022: 15 · 2021: 14 · 2020: 23 · 2019: 30 · 2018: 33 · 2017: 36 · 2016: 22 · 2015: 33 · 2014: 36 · 2013: 28 · 2012: 8
FWCI: 38.02
Type: journal article
Language: en
Open access: green
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
Locations: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (publishedVersion)
Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (publishedVersion)
PubMed Central (publishedVersion)
PubMed (publishedVersion)
Funders: National Institute on Drug Abuse (R21DA030066)
Topics: Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Mindfulness and Compassion Interventions
Health Sciences › Medicine › Radiology, Nuclear Medicine and Imaging › Advanced Neuroimaging Techniques and Applications
Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Functional Brain Connectivity Studies
Keywords: mindfulness meditation, white matter plasticity, fractional anisotropy, radial diffusivity, axial diffusivity, anterior cingulate cortex, myelination, axon density, mood, self-regulation, neuroplasticity
MeSH terms: Brain, Humans, Myelin Sheath, Meditation, Self Efficacy

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Mechanisms of white matter changes induced by meditation

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