Short-term meditation increases network efficiency of the anterior cingulate cortex.

Author: Xue S, Tang YY, Posner MI.
Affiliation: aInstitute of Neuroinformatics and Laboratory for Body and Mind, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian, China bDepartment of Psychology, University of Oregon, Eugene, Oregon, USA.
Conference/Journal: Neuroreport.
Date published: 2011 Jun 17
Other: Word Count: 116


Previous studies have found that short-term integrative body-mind training (IBMT) has positive effects on the brain structure and function in the anterior cingulate cortex. Here, we determined whether 11 h of IBMT alters topological properties of the anterior cingulate cortex in brain functional networks. We applied network analysis to resting-state functional connectivity between 90 cortical and subcortical regions before and after IBMT and relaxation training. The results demonstrated a significant increase in the network efficiency and connectivity of the anterior cingulate cortex after IBMT, but not after relaxation training. These findings indicated that the change in network topology might occur by altering the brain or psychological state. IBMT might be an intervention tool for improvement of self-regulation.

PMID: 21691234