Neural correlates of meditation-induced changes in self-related traits: a resting state fMRI study

Meditation training can influence various self-related traits, such as self-judgment (SJ), self-kindness (SK), rumination (RUM) and reflection (REF), but little is known about the underlying neural mechanisms. This study aimed to elucidate the neural correlates of changes in traits of SJ, SK, RUM, and REF in response to mindfulness meditation training.

Secondary data analyses were conducted on pre- and post-intervention questionnaires and resting state fMRI data collected in a prior mechanistic neuroimaging Randomized Controlled Trial (RCT) that compared 8 weeks of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR, n=39) to an active control program of Stress Management Education (SME) (n=25) among healthy adults. Voxelwise Amplitudes of Low Frequency Fluctuations (ALFF) were calculated from resting state fMRI as a measurement of magnitudes of spontaneous brain activity.

Linear mixed effects model analyses found no significant group by time interaction effects with any of the outcome measures. The MBSR group had significant improvements in all four trait measures, whereas the control group only had significant improvements in SJ and SK (p < 0.05). Linear regression analyses were conducted to predict voxelwise ALFF changes (ΔALFF) using questionnaire score changes (Δ). Within the MBSR group, ΔSK was positively associated with ΔALFF at the right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC), while ΔRUM and ΔREF respectively had negative and positive associations with ΔALFF in the Temporal Parietal Junction (TPJ). Different neural correlates were observed in the control group.

These findings suggest that meditation training can influence self-related traits through adaptive changes in brain regions involved in executive functioning (DLPFC) and empathy (TPJ).

The original RCT was registered as NCT01488422 at ClinicalTrials.gov, accessible at: https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT01488422.