A pilot study investigating changes in neural processing after mindfulness training in elite athletes

Lori Haase,Sara Isakovic,Thomas T Liu,Steven D Hickman,April C May,Alan N Simmons,Maryam Falahpour,Martin P Paulus

doi:10.3389/fnbeh.2015.00229

Abstract

The ability to pay close attention to the present moment can be a crucial factor for performing well in a competitive situation. Training mindfulness is one approach to potentially improve elite athletes’ ability to focus their attention on the present moment. However, virtually nothing is known about whether these types of interventions alter neural systems that are important for optimal performance. This pilot study examined whether an intervention aimed at improving mindfulness [Mindful Performance Enhancement, Awareness and Knowledge (mPEAK)] changes neural activation patterns during an interoceptive challenge. Participants completed a task involving anticipation and experience of loaded breathing during functional magnetic resonance imaging recording. There were five main results following mPEAK training: (1) elite athletes self-reported higher levels of interoceptive awareness and mindfulness and lower levels of alexithymia; (2) greater insula and anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) activation during anticipation and post-breathing load conditions; (3) increased ACC activation during the anticipation condition was associated with increased scores on the describing subscale of the Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire; (4) increased insula activation during the post-load condition was associated with decreases in the Toronto Alexithymia Scale identifying feelings subscale; (5) decreased resting state functional connectivity between the PCC and the right medial frontal cortex and the ACC. Taken together, this pilot study suggests that mPEAK training may lead to increased attention to bodily signals and greater neural processing during the anticipation and recovery from interoceptive perturbations. This association between attention to and processing of interoceptive afferents may result in greater adaptation during stressful situations in elite athletes.

Highlights

The ability to perform well during a high intensity competition is an important characteristic for elite athletes
There was a main effect of time for the Facets of Mindfulness Questionnaire (FFMQ) describe subscale [F(1,6) = 15.68, p = 0.007; d = 0.84], such that following mPEAK training, the BMX athletes self-reported greater levels of describing/labeling with words
Subjective Breathing Load and Behavioral Performance During fMRI Breathing Load There was an overall effect of time for the VAS 40 cmH2O/L/sec pleasantness ratings [F(1,6) = 6.91, p = 0.039; d = 0.73]; pleasantness ratings increased from pre- to post-fMRI sessions (Table 2)

Summary

Introduction

The ability to perform well during a high intensity competition is an important characteristic for elite athletes. It has been proposed that the right fronto-insular cortex, in conjunction with ACC, plays a causal role in alternating between the frontal control network and the default mode network (Prosperi et al, 2009) and is involved in switching during a variety of perceptual, memory, and problem solving tasks (Schulz et al, 2015) Consistent with this notion is the observation that the AI is involved in the processing of temporal predictions (Limongi et al, 2013) as well as the influence of self-regulation on functional connectivity (FC; Haller et al, 2013). If predicting perturbations in the internal body state is a function of AI and ACC, we hypothesize that heightened activation in these structures is associated with increased resilience

Materials and Methods

Results

Discussion