Increased neurocardiological interplay after mindfulness meditation: a brain oscillation-based approach
BackgroundBrain oscillations facilitate interaction within the brain network and between the brain and heart activities, and the alpha wave, as a prominent brain oscillation, plays a major role in these coherent activities. We hypothesize that mindfully breathing can make the brain and heart activit...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2023-06-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Human Neuroscience |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnhum.2023.1008490/full |
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| author | Junling Gao Rui Sun Hang Kin Leung Adam Roberts Bonnie Wai Yan Wu Eric W. Tsang Andrew C. W. Tang Hin Hung Sik |
| author_facet | Junling Gao Rui Sun Hang Kin Leung Adam Roberts Bonnie Wai Yan Wu Eric W. Tsang Andrew C. W. Tang Hin Hung Sik |
| author_sort | Junling Gao |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | BackgroundBrain oscillations facilitate interaction within the brain network and between the brain and heart activities, and the alpha wave, as a prominent brain oscillation, plays a major role in these coherent activities. We hypothesize that mindfully breathing can make the brain and heart activities more coherent in terms of increased connectivity between the electroencephalogram (EEG) and electrocardiogram (ECG) signals.MethodsEleven participants (28–52 years) attended 8 weeks of Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) training. EEG and ECG data of two states of mindful breathing and rest, both eye-closed, were recorded before and after the training. EEGLAB was used to analyze the alpha band (8–12 Hz) power, alpha peak frequency (APF), peak power and coherence. FMRIB toolbox was used to extract the ECG data. Heart coherence (HC) and heartbeat evoked potential (HEP) were calculated for further correlation analysis.ResultsAfter 8 weeks of MBSR training, the correlation between APF and HC increased significantly in the middle frontal region and bilateral temporal regions. The correlation between alpha coherence and heart coherence had similar changes, while alpha peak power did not reflect such changes. In contrast, spectrum analysis alone did not show difference before and after MBSR training.ConclusionThe brain works in rhythmic oscillation, and this rhythmic connection becomes more coherent with cardiac activity after 8 weeks of MBSR training. Individual APF is relatively stable and its interplay with cardiac activity may be a more sensitive index than power spectrum by monitoring the brain-heart connection. This preliminary study has important implications for the neuroscientific measurement of meditative practice. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-13T04:38:25Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-80505b947cca469aa26ccd9b9a8a738d |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1662-5161 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-13T04:38:25Z |
| publishDate | 2023-06-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Human Neuroscience |
| spelling | doaj.art-80505b947cca469aa26ccd9b9a8a738d2023-06-19T06:36:30ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Human Neuroscience1662-51612023-06-011710.3389/fnhum.2023.10084901008490Increased neurocardiological interplay after mindfulness meditation: a brain oscillation-based approachJunling Gao0Rui Sun1Hang Kin Leung2Adam Roberts3Bonnie Wai Yan Wu4Eric W. Tsang5Andrew C. W. Tang6Hin Hung Sik7Buddhist Practices and Counselling Science Lab, Centre of Buddhist Studies, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, ChinaDepartment of Rehabilitation Sciences, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, ChinaBuddhist Practices and Counselling Science Lab, Centre of Buddhist Studies, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, ChinaSingapore-ETH Centre, Future Resilient Systems Programme, Singapore, SingaporeBuddhist Practices and Counselling Science Lab, Centre of Buddhist Studies, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, ChinaDepartment of Rehabilitation Sciences, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, ChinaDepartment of Psychology, HKU School of Professional and Continuing Education, Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, ChinaBuddhist Practices and Counselling Science Lab, Centre of Buddhist Studies, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, ChinaBackgroundBrain oscillations facilitate interaction within the brain network and between the brain and heart activities, and the alpha wave, as a prominent brain oscillation, plays a major role in these coherent activities. We hypothesize that mindfully breathing can make the brain and heart activities more coherent in terms of increased connectivity between the electroencephalogram (EEG) and electrocardiogram (ECG) signals.MethodsEleven participants (28–52 years) attended 8 weeks of Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) training. EEG and ECG data of two states of mindful breathing and rest, both eye-closed, were recorded before and after the training. EEGLAB was used to analyze the alpha band (8–12 Hz) power, alpha peak frequency (APF), peak power and coherence. FMRIB toolbox was used to extract the ECG data. Heart coherence (HC) and heartbeat evoked potential (HEP) were calculated for further correlation analysis.ResultsAfter 8 weeks of MBSR training, the correlation between APF and HC increased significantly in the middle frontal region and bilateral temporal regions. The correlation between alpha coherence and heart coherence had similar changes, while alpha peak power did not reflect such changes. In contrast, spectrum analysis alone did not show difference before and after MBSR training.ConclusionThe brain works in rhythmic oscillation, and this rhythmic connection becomes more coherent with cardiac activity after 8 weeks of MBSR training. Individual APF is relatively stable and its interplay with cardiac activity may be a more sensitive index than power spectrum by monitoring the brain-heart connection. This preliminary study has important implications for the neuroscientific measurement of meditative practice.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnhum.2023.1008490/fullalpha peak frequencymindfulness meditationheart coherencebrain-heart connectioneffective connectivityresting-state EEG |
| spellingShingle | Junling Gao Rui Sun Hang Kin Leung Adam Roberts Bonnie Wai Yan Wu Eric W. Tsang Andrew C. W. Tang Hin Hung Sik Increased neurocardiological interplay after mindfulness meditation: a brain oscillation-based approach Frontiers in Human Neuroscience alpha peak frequency mindfulness meditation heart coherence brain-heart connection effective connectivity resting-state EEG |
| title | Increased neurocardiological interplay after mindfulness meditation: a brain oscillation-based approach |
| title_full | Increased neurocardiological interplay after mindfulness meditation: a brain oscillation-based approach |
| title_fullStr | Increased neurocardiological interplay after mindfulness meditation: a brain oscillation-based approach |
| title_full_unstemmed | Increased neurocardiological interplay after mindfulness meditation: a brain oscillation-based approach |
| title_short | Increased neurocardiological interplay after mindfulness meditation: a brain oscillation-based approach |
| title_sort | increased neurocardiological interplay after mindfulness meditation a brain oscillation based approach |
| topic | alpha peak frequency mindfulness meditation heart coherence brain-heart connection effective connectivity resting-state EEG |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnhum.2023.1008490/full |
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