Studying the default mode and its mindfulness-induced changes using EEG functional connectivity - PubMed (original) (raw)

Studying the default mode and its mindfulness-induced changes using EEG functional connectivity

Aviva Berkovich-Ohana et al. Soc Cogn Affect Neurosci. 2014 Oct.

Abstract

The default mode network (DMN) has been largely studied by imaging, but not yet by neurodynamics, using electroencephalography (EEG) functional connectivity (FC). mindfulness meditation (MM), a receptive, non-elaborative training is theorized to lower DMN activity. We explored: (i) the usefulness of EEG-FC for investigating the DMN and (ii) the MM-induced EEG-FC effects. To this end, three MM groups were compared with controls, employing EEG-FC (-MPC, mean phase coherence). Our results show that: (i) DMN activity was identified as reduced overall inter-hemispheric gamma MPC during the transition from resting state to a time production task and (ii) MM-induced a state increase in alpha MPC as well as a trait decrease in EEG-FC. The MM-induced EEG-FC decrease was irrespective of expertise or band. Specifically, there was a relative reduction in right theta MPC, and left alpha and gamma MPC. The left gamma MPC was negatively correlated with MM expertise, possibly related to lower internal verbalization. The trait lower gamma MPC supports the notion of MM-induced reduction in DMN activity, related with self-reference and mind-wandering. This report emphasizes the possibility of studying the DMN using EEG-FC as well as the importance of studying meditation in relation to it.

Keywords: default mode network; electroencephalography; functional connectivity; mean phase coherence; mindfulness meditation.

© The Author (2013). Published by Oxford University Press. For Permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oup.com.

PubMed Disclaimer

Figures

Fig. 1

Fig. 1

Electrode net configuration and ROIs used for MPC calculations (right) as well as intra- (top left) and inter- (bottom left) hemispheric long-range connections used.

Fig. 2

Fig. 2

(A) Mean z-MPC within the intra-HEM connections in the three bands during resting state (RS; left) and the time production (TP; right) task. *P < 0.01. (B) Topographic distribution of mean z-MPC values over all subjects (n = 48) for individual intra-HEM connections, within the three bands, theta (top), alpha (middle) and gamma (bottom).

Fig. 3

Fig. 3

(A) Mean z-MPC group differences during the resting state: the group · band · hemisphere interaction. (B) Topographic distribution of mean _z_-MPC values over the different groups for individual intra-HEM electrode connections within the three bands, theta (top), alpha (middle) and gamma (bottom).

Fig. 4

Fig. 4

Mean z-MPC differences between RS and MED for MM. The Condition · Band interaction for the left-HEM connections (top) and right-HEM connections (bottom). **P < 0.005.

Similar articles

Cited by

References

    1. Aftanas LI, Golocheikine SA. Human anterior and frontal midline theta and lower alpha reflect emotionally positive state and internalized attention: high-resolution EEG investigation of meditation. Neuroscience Letters. 2001;310:57–60. - PubMed
    1. Aftanas LI, Golocheikine SA. Non-linear dynamic complexity of the human EEG during meditation. Neuroscience Letters. 2002;330:143–6. - PubMed
    1. Baijal S, Srinivasan N. Theta activity and meditative states: spectral changes during concentrative meditation. Cognitive Processing. 2010;11:31–8. - PubMed
    1. Bastiaansen M, Hagoort P. Oscillatory neuronal dynamics during language comprehension. Progress in Brain Research. 2006;159:179–96. - PubMed
    1. Berkovich-Ohana A, Glicksohn J, Goldstein A. Temporal cognition changes following mindfulness, but not transcendental meditation practice. In: Algom D, Zakay D, Chajut E, Shaki E, Mama Y, Shakuf V, editors. Fechner Day 2011: Proceedings of the 27th Annual Meeting of the International Society for Psychophysics. Raanana, Israel: 2011. pp. 245–50.

Publication types

MeSH terms

LinkOut - more resources