Mindfulness and Brain regions Flashcards
What is the DMN and what does it consist of?
Default Mode Network
hippocampus, MPFC, posterior cingulate cortex
What tasks are the DMN related to?
self-referencing, episodic memory, Tom, autobiographical memory
Mid Wandering
What has Mind Wandering been linked to?
Increased errors in activity
A number of mental disorder
What did Brewer et al find in mindfulness and brain networks?
Meditators with 10 years experience were found to have less mind wandering and decreased activity in the DMN in all types of meditation
What did Ferugillo et al find in their systematic review of mindfulness and mind wandering?
The review found lower MW during meditation in meditators
Reduced activity in the DMN
What roles are the insula responsible for?
Awareness of internal visceral states
Emotional self-awareness
What did Lazar find regarding the brain structure and mindfulness?
He found greater grey matter in the PFC and the right insula, and like Hozel found thickness was associated with length of experience.
Fard found what regarding mindfulness and interception attention?
MSBR group showed greater IA specific functional platisicity (middle and anterior insula) compared to controls.
What did Pernet et al find in their meta-analysis?
In 25 studies the anterior ventral Insula was the only consistently different area between meditatiors and controls.
What are the limitations of Pernet’s meta analysis?
Multiple types of mediations used
Cross sectional studies
Confounders
Lack of observational blinding
What are the key roles in the amygdala?
Part of limbic system
Flight or fight response
Right side related to negative emotion and immediate behavioural response-Left side related to positive emotions and memories
What did Hozel’s longitutadal study of perceived stress and amygdala grey matter find?
MBSR decreased perceived stress and this was associated with decreased grey matter in right amygdala
What did Taren et al find with mindfulness and MRI studies?
By looking at those with dispositional mindfulness they found a negative association in Grey matter volume and right amygdala grey matter volume.
What did Gotink et al find about the amygdala hippocampus grey matter and mindfulness?
Yoga practice was shown to be associated with lower right amygdala volume
Is mindfulness the only reason we may see differences in a study like Gotink et al?
No group interaction, general learning or attention may also impact results.