Mindfulness meditation styles differently modulate source-level MEG microstate dynamics and complexity
BackgroundThe investigation of mindfulness meditation practice, classically divided into focused attention meditation (FAM), and open monitoring meditation (OMM) styles, has seen a long tradition of theoretical, affective, neurophysiological and clinical studies. In particular, the high temporal res...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2024-02-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Neuroscience |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnins.2024.1295615/full |
| _version_ | 1827365284800888832 |
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| author | Antea D’Andrea Pierpaolo Croce Jordan O’Byrne Karim Jerbi Annalisa Pascarella Antonino Raffone Vittorio Pizzella Vittorio Pizzella Laura Marzetti Laura Marzetti |
| author_facet | Antea D’Andrea Pierpaolo Croce Jordan O’Byrne Karim Jerbi Annalisa Pascarella Antonino Raffone Vittorio Pizzella Vittorio Pizzella Laura Marzetti Laura Marzetti |
| author_sort | Antea D’Andrea |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | BackgroundThe investigation of mindfulness meditation practice, classically divided into focused attention meditation (FAM), and open monitoring meditation (OMM) styles, has seen a long tradition of theoretical, affective, neurophysiological and clinical studies. In particular, the high temporal resolution of magnetoencephalography (MEG) or electroencephalography (EEG) has been exploited to fill the gap between the personal experience of meditation practice and its neural correlates. Mounting evidence, in fact, shows that human brain activity is highly dynamic, transiting between different brain states (microstates). In this study, we aimed at exploring MEG microstates at source-level during FAM, OMM and in the resting state, as well as the complexity and criticality of dynamic transitions between microstates.MethodsTen right-handed Theravada Buddhist monks with a meditative expertise of minimum 2,265 h participated in the experiment. MEG data were acquired during a randomized block design task (6 min FAM, 6 min OMM, with each meditative block preceded and followed by 3 min resting state). Source reconstruction was performed using eLORETA on individual cortical space, and then parcellated according to the Human Connect Project atlas. Microstate analysis was then applied to parcel level signals in order to derive microstate topographies and indices. In addition, from microstate sequences, the Hurst exponent and the Lempel-Ziv complexity (LZC) were computed.ResultsOur results show that the coverage and occurrence of specific microstates are modulated either by being in a meditative state or by performing a specific meditation style. Hurst exponent values in both meditation conditions are reduced with respect to the value observed during rest, LZC shows significant differences between OMM, FAM, and REST, with a progressive increase from REST to FAM to OMM.DiscussionImportantly, we report changes in brain criticality indices during meditation and between meditation styles, in line with a state-like effect of meditation on cognitive performance. In line with previous reports, we suggest that the change in cognitive state experienced in meditation is paralleled by a shift with respect to critical points in brain dynamics. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-08T08:27:02Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-002e20f6fa464673bac43da051f143de |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1662-453X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-08T08:27:02Z |
| publishDate | 2024-02-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Neuroscience |
| spelling | doaj.art-002e20f6fa464673bac43da051f143de2024-02-02T04:31:53ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Neuroscience1662-453X2024-02-011810.3389/fnins.2024.12956151295615Mindfulness meditation styles differently modulate source-level MEG microstate dynamics and complexityAntea D’Andrea0Pierpaolo Croce1Jordan O’Byrne2Karim Jerbi3Annalisa Pascarella4Antonino Raffone5Vittorio Pizzella6Vittorio Pizzella7Laura Marzetti8Laura Marzetti9Department of Neuroscience, Imaging and Clinical Sciences, University of Chieti-Pescara, Chieti, Abruzzo, ItalyDepartment of Neuroscience, Imaging and Clinical Sciences, University of Chieti-Pescara, Chieti, Abruzzo, ItalyDepartment of Psychology, University of Montreal, Montreal, QC, CanadaDepartment of Psychology, University of Montreal, Montreal, QC, CanadaInstitute for the Applications of Calculus “M. Picone”, National Research Council, Rome, Lazio, ItalyDepartment of Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Lazio, ItalyDepartment of Neuroscience, Imaging and Clinical Sciences, University of Chieti-Pescara, Chieti, Abruzzo, ItalyInstitute for Advanced Biomedical Technologies, University of Chieti-Pescara, Chieti, Abruzzo, ItalyDepartment of Neuroscience, Imaging and Clinical Sciences, University of Chieti-Pescara, Chieti, Abruzzo, ItalyInstitute for Advanced Biomedical Technologies, University of Chieti-Pescara, Chieti, Abruzzo, ItalyBackgroundThe investigation of mindfulness meditation practice, classically divided into focused attention meditation (FAM), and open monitoring meditation (OMM) styles, has seen a long tradition of theoretical, affective, neurophysiological and clinical studies. In particular, the high temporal resolution of magnetoencephalography (MEG) or electroencephalography (EEG) has been exploited to fill the gap between the personal experience of meditation practice and its neural correlates. Mounting evidence, in fact, shows that human brain activity is highly dynamic, transiting between different brain states (microstates). In this study, we aimed at exploring MEG microstates at source-level during FAM, OMM and in the resting state, as well as the complexity and criticality of dynamic transitions between microstates.MethodsTen right-handed Theravada Buddhist monks with a meditative expertise of minimum 2,265 h participated in the experiment. MEG data were acquired during a randomized block design task (6 min FAM, 6 min OMM, with each meditative block preceded and followed by 3 min resting state). Source reconstruction was performed using eLORETA on individual cortical space, and then parcellated according to the Human Connect Project atlas. Microstate analysis was then applied to parcel level signals in order to derive microstate topographies and indices. In addition, from microstate sequences, the Hurst exponent and the Lempel-Ziv complexity (LZC) were computed.ResultsOur results show that the coverage and occurrence of specific microstates are modulated either by being in a meditative state or by performing a specific meditation style. Hurst exponent values in both meditation conditions are reduced with respect to the value observed during rest, LZC shows significant differences between OMM, FAM, and REST, with a progressive increase from REST to FAM to OMM.DiscussionImportantly, we report changes in brain criticality indices during meditation and between meditation styles, in line with a state-like effect of meditation on cognitive performance. In line with previous reports, we suggest that the change in cognitive state experienced in meditation is paralleled by a shift with respect to critical points in brain dynamics.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnins.2024.1295615/fullmicrostate analysisbrain criticalitycomplexitymindfulness meditationopen monitoring meditationfocused attention meditation |
| spellingShingle | Antea D’Andrea Pierpaolo Croce Jordan O’Byrne Karim Jerbi Annalisa Pascarella Antonino Raffone Vittorio Pizzella Vittorio Pizzella Laura Marzetti Laura Marzetti Mindfulness meditation styles differently modulate source-level MEG microstate dynamics and complexity Frontiers in Neuroscience microstate analysis brain criticality complexity mindfulness meditation open monitoring meditation focused attention meditation |
| title | Mindfulness meditation styles differently modulate source-level MEG microstate dynamics and complexity |
| title_full | Mindfulness meditation styles differently modulate source-level MEG microstate dynamics and complexity |
| title_fullStr | Mindfulness meditation styles differently modulate source-level MEG microstate dynamics and complexity |
| title_full_unstemmed | Mindfulness meditation styles differently modulate source-level MEG microstate dynamics and complexity |
| title_short | Mindfulness meditation styles differently modulate source-level MEG microstate dynamics and complexity |
| title_sort | mindfulness meditation styles differently modulate source level meg microstate dynamics and complexity |
| topic | microstate analysis brain criticality complexity mindfulness meditation open monitoring meditation focused attention meditation |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnins.2024.1295615/full |
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