Abstract
Several cross-sectional studies have documented neuroanatomical changes in individuals with a long history of meditation, while a few evidences are available about the interaction between neuroanatomical and psychological changes even during brief exposure to meditation. Here we analyzed several morphometric indexes at both cortical and subcortical brain level, as well as multiple psychological dimensions, before and after a brief -8 weeks- Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) training program, in a group of 23 meditation naïve-subjects compared to age-gender matched subjects. We found a significant cortical thickness increase in the right insula and the somatosensory cortex of MBSR trainees, coupled with a significant reduction of several psychological indices related to worry, state anxiety, depression and alexithymia. Most importantly, an interesting correlation between the increase in right insula thickness and the decrease in alexithymia levels during the MBSR training were observed. Moreover, a multivariate pattern classification approach allowed to identify a cluster of regions more responsive to MBSR training across subjects. Taken together, these findings documented the significant impact of a brief MBSR training on brain structures, as well as stressing the idea of MBSR as a valuable tool for alexithymia modulation, also originally providing a plausible neurobiological evidence of a major role of right insula into mediating the observed psychological changes.
Highlights
Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) is a mindfulness meditation-based program in which participants are invited to connect with their physical sensations, perceptions, emotions, cognitions and behaviour, over a period of 8 weeks, with a ‘‘nonjudgmental’’ attitude [1,2]
The group6time interaction was significant for the VBCT model (F (1,25) = 5.456; p = .008; g2 = .467), indicating an increases in cortical thickness greater in the MBSR than in the control group, located in the right insula (F (1,25) = 12.134; p = .001) and somatosensory cortex (F (1,25) = 10.316; p = .002) (Figure 1, Figure 2A, Table 2)
The last decade has revealed growing evidence of anatomical and functional brain modifications associated with meditation practices, with results referring to a large variety of different methods of meditation
Summary
Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) is a mindfulness meditation-based program in which participants are invited to connect with their physical sensations, perceptions, emotions, cognitions and behaviour, over a period of 8 weeks, with a ‘‘nonjudgmental’’ attitude [1,2]. Mindfulness meditation based programs lead to changes in the attitude of the practitioners towards their thoughts, sensations and emotions. This can be considered useful in reducing stress symptoms in non-clinical populations [3,4] and may help patients cope with a wide variety of clinical conditions, such as anxiety [5,6], depression [7,8], substance abuse [9] and chronic pain [10]. It is impossible to generalize the effect of various meditative methods on brain structure and function and it is not the purpose of this paper to compare different meditative methods
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
