Short-term meditation induces white matter changes in the anterior cingulate

Yi Yuan Tang, Qilin Lu, Xiujuan Geng, Elliot A. Stein, Yihong Yang, Michael I. Posner

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

359 Scopus citations

Abstract

The anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) is part of a network implicated in the development of self-regulation and whose connectivity changes dramatically in development. In previous studieswe showed that 3 h of mental training, based on traditional Chinese medicine (integrative body - mind training, IBMT), increases ACC activity and improves self-regulation. However, it is not known whether changes in white matter connectivity can result from small amounts of mental training. We here report that 11 h of IBMT increases fractional anisotropy (FA), an index indicating the integrity and efficiency ofwhite matter in the corona radiata, an important white-matter tract connecting the ACC to other structures. Thus IBMT could provide a means for improving self-regulation and perhaps reducing or preventing various mental disorders.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)15649-15652
Number of pages4
JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
Volume107
Issue number35
DOIs
StatePublished - Aug 31 2010
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Anterior cingulate cortex
  • Anterior corona radiata
  • Integrative body-mind training
  • Relaxation training
  • Self-regulation

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General

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