Meditation-State Functional Connectivity (msFC): Strengthening of the Dorsal Attention Network and Beyond.
Abstract
Meditation practice alters intrinsic resting-state functional connectivity (rsFC)
in the default mode network (DMN). However, little is known regarding the effects
of meditation on other resting-state networks. The aim of current study was to investigate
the effects of meditation experience and meditation-state functional connectivity
(msFC) on multiple resting-state networks (RSNs). Meditation practitioners (MPs) performed
two 5-minute scans, one during rest, one while meditating. A meditation naïve control
group (CG) underwent one resting-state scan. Exploratory regression analyses of the
relations between years of meditation practice and rsFC and msFC were conducted. During
resting-state, MP as compared to CG exhibited greater rsFC within the Dorsal Attention
Network (DAN). Among MP, meditation, as compared to rest, strengthened FC between
the DAN and DMN and Salience network whereas it decreased FC between the DAN, dorsal
medial PFC, and insula. Regression analyses revealed positive correlations between
the number of years of meditation experience and msFC between DAN, thalamus, and anterior
parietal sulcus, whereas negative correlations between DAN, lateral and superior parietal,
and insula. These findings suggest that the practice of meditation strengthens FC
within the DAN as well as strengthens the coupling between distributed networks that
are involved in attention, self-referential processes, and affective response.
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https://hdl.handle.net/10161/11995Published Version (Please cite this version)
10.1155/2012/680407Publication Info
Froeliger, Brett; Garland, Eric L; Kozink, Rachel V; Modlin, Leslie A; Chen, Nan-Kuei;
McClernon, F Joseph; ... Sobin, Paul (2012). Meditation-State Functional Connectivity (msFC): Strengthening of the Dorsal Attention
Network and Beyond. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med, 2012. pp. 680407. 10.1155/2012/680407. Retrieved from https://hdl.handle.net/10161/11995.This is constructed from limited available data and may be imprecise. To cite this
article, please review & use the official citation provided by the journal.
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Show full item recordScholars@Duke
Nan-kuei Chen
Adjunct Associate Professor in the Department of Radiology
Dr. Chen is a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) physicist with research interest in
fast image acquisition methodology, pulse sequence design, MRI artifact correction,
and application of MRI to studies of neurological diseases. He has been developing
novel high-resolution imaging protocols and analysis procedures for mapping structural
and functional connectivity of brains. More generally, Dr. Chen's research involves
the application of MRI in translational contexts. He has been serving as the pr
Jeffrey Michael Greeson
Adjunct Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences
- Biological mechanisms linking emotion, stress and health (psychoneuroimmunology)
- Effects of mindfulness meditation on stress reduction, sleep quality, and cardiovascular
risk profile - Integrative medicine clinical outcomes research - Advanced statistical
modeling (e.g., SEM, HLM)
This author no longer has a Scholars@Duke profile, so the information shown here reflects
their Duke status at the time this item was deposited.
F Joseph McClernon
Professor in Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences
Joe McClernon, Ph.D. is a Professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral
Sciences, Founder/Director of the Center for Addiction Science and Technology (CfAST),
and Director of Evaluation and Strategic Planning in the Duke Clinical and Translational
Science Institute (CTSI). He earned a Ph.D. in clinical psychology in 2001 from Southern
Illinois University-Carbondale and completed a postdoctoral fellowship at Duke in
2002. He served as Director of the Addiction Division in Psychiatry
Alphabetical list of authors with Scholars@Duke profiles.

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