title: Enhanced amygdala-cortical functional connectivity in meditators.
abstract: Previous studies have demonstrated that meditation is associated with neuroplastic changes in the brain regions including amygdala, anterior cingulate cortex (ACC), and temporal-parietal junction. Extended from these previous works, this study examined the functional connectivity of the amygdala in meditation experts during affective processing and observed that these experts had significantly stronger left amygdala (LA) connectivity with the dorsal ACC (dACC), premotor, and primary somatosensory cortices (PSC) while viewing affectively positive stimuli when compared to the novices. The current findings have implications for further understanding of affective neuroplastic changes associated with meditation in the amygdala.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Neuropsychology, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong; Laboratory of Cognitive Affective Neuroscience, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong.
authors.forename: Mei-Kei
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Leung
authors.affiliation: Applied Cognitive Neuroscience Laboratory, Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong.
authors.forename: Chetwyn C H
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Chan
authors.affiliation: Centre of Buddhist Studies, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong.
authors.forename: Jing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Yin
authors.affiliation: Centre of Buddhist Studies, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong.
authors.forename: Chack-Fan
authors.initials: CF
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong; GMH Institute of CNS Regeneration, and Guangdong Medical Key Laboratory of Brain Function and Diseases, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China; The State Key Laboratory of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong.
authors.forename: Kwok-Fai
authors.initials: KF
authors.lastname: So
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Neuropsychology, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong; Laboratory of Cognitive Affective Neuroscience, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong; The State Key Laboratory of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong; Institute of Clinical Neuropsychology, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong. Electronic address: tmclee@hku.hk.
authors.forename: Tatia M C
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D000679:Amygdala / Q000502:physiology*; D001143:Arousal; D001931:Brain Mapping; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000502:physiology*; D004644:Emotions; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D019122:Meditation; D010775:Photic Stimulation
keywords: Amygdala; Anterior cingulate cortex; Emotions; Functional connectivity; Meditation; Mirror neuron