title: Short-term meditation increases network efficiency of the anterior cingulate cortex.
abstract: Previous studies have found that short-term integrative body-mind training (IBMT) has positive effects on the brain structure and function in the anterior cingulate cortex. Here, we determined whether 11 h of IBMT alters topological properties of the anterior cingulate cortex in brain functional networks. We applied network analysis to resting-state functional connectivity between 90 cortical and subcortical regions before and after IBMT and relaxation training. The results demonstrated a significant increase in the network efficiency and connectivity of the anterior cingulate cortex after IBMT, but not after relaxation training. These findings indicated that the change in network topology might occur by altering the brain or psychological state. IBMT might be an intervention tool for improvement of self-regulation.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Neuroinformatics and Laboratory for Body and Mind, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian, China.
authors.forename: Shaowei
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Xue
authors.forename: Yi-Yuan
authors.initials: YY
authors.lastname: Tang
authors.forename: Michael I
authors.initials: MI
authors.lastname: Posner
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001931:Brain Mapping; D005260:Female; D006179:Gyrus Cinguli / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D007090:Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D019122:Meditation / Q000523:psychology*; D009415:Nerve Net / Q000502:physiology*; D055815:Young Adult