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Roy A, Girija VS, Kitzlerová E. The Role of Momentary Dissociation in the Sensory Cortex: A Neurophysiological Review and its Implications for Maladaptive Daydreaming. Med Sci Monit 2024; 30:e944209. [PMID: 38848281 PMCID: PMC11166090 DOI: 10.12659/msm.944209] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2024] [Accepted: 03/27/2024] [Indexed: 06/09/2024] Open
Abstract
Daydreaming, a form of spontaneous and self-generated mental process, may lead to the disintegration of attention from the immediate external environment. In extreme cases, patients may develop maladaptive daydreaming comorbid with dissociation. The examination of dissociative alterations frequently occurs within the framework of complex cognitive processes. While dissociation may be a neurological and psychological dysfunction of integration, transient dissociative occurrences, i.e., momentary dissociation may signify a dynamic interplay between attentional division and orientation within the sensory cortex. Furthermore, previous studies have recorded the interactivity of attention by stimuli onset with P3 event-related potentials and the active suppression of distractor positivity. In this context, during auditory and visual mismatch negativity, the sensory cortex may interact with attentional orientation. Additionally, distractor positivity during task-relevant stimuli may play a crucial role in predicting momentary dissociation since sensory cortices share cerebral correlates with attentional fluctuations during mental imagery. Thus, this theoretical review investigated the cerebral activities associated with attentional orientation and may be extended to mindfulness. By integrating these findings, we aim to provide a comprehensive understanding of dissociative states which may lead to a resolution for dissociative psychopathology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anney Roy
- Department of Psychiatry, First Faculty of Medicine, Charles University in Prague and General University Hospital in Prague, Prague, Czech Republic
| | | | - Eva Kitzlerová
- Department of Psychiatry, First Faculty of Medicine, Charles University in Prague and General University Hospital in Prague, Prague, Czech Republic
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Ahuja N, Bhardwaj P, Pathania M, Sethi D, Kumar A, Parchani A, Chandel A, Phadke A. Yoga Nidra for hypertension: A systematic review and meta-analysis. J Ayurveda Integr Med 2024; 15:100882. [PMID: 38484438 PMCID: PMC10950755 DOI: 10.1016/j.jaim.2023.100882] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2023] [Revised: 10/05/2023] [Accepted: 12/15/2023] [Indexed: 03/24/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Hypertension is a prevalent chronic condition that affects a substantial proportion of the world's population. Medications are commonly prescribed for hypertension management, but non-pharmacological interventions like yoga are gaining popularity. OBJECTIVE The purpose of this systematic review and meta-analysis is to assess the efficacy of Yoga Nidra (YN) for the management of hypertension. METHODS A systematic review and meta-analysis of clinical trials, i.e., non-randomized and randomized controlled trials (RCTs) was conducted to investigate the effects of YN on hypertension. PubMed, the Cochrane Library, SCOPUS, and EBSCO were searched for relevant studies published up to September 2022. The quality of the included studies was assessed using the Cochrane risk of bias tool. The primary outcome measure was the change in systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) after YN intervention, analyzed as weighted mean difference (WMD), in comparison to control groups. The random-effects model was used for the meta-analysis. Risk of bias was assessed for RCTs and non-RCTs using Cochrane's RoB-2 and ROBINS-I tools, respectively. RESULTS Five RCTs and three Non-RCTs involving a total of 482 participants (239 for YN vs 243 for controls) were included in this review. The meta-analysis indicated that YN significantly reduced SBP (WMD = 12.03 mm Hg, 95% CI [7.12, 16.93], Z = 4.80, p < 0.00001) and DBP (WMD = 6.32 mm Hg, 95% CI [3.53, 9.12], Z = 4.43, p < 0.00001) compared to control groups. The overall risk of bias for the three RCTs was high, whereas for the five non-RCTs, one had an overall moderate risk while the other four had an overall serious risk of bias. DISCUSSION This systematic review and meta-analysis provides evidence supporting the efficacy of YN as a complementary therapy for hypertension management. YN is a safe, cost-effective, and easily accessible intervention that primarily relies on interoception and induces a deep relaxation response in practitioners, aiding them in coping with various components of high blood pressure, such as stress, vascular inflammation, peripheral vascular resistance, etc. Our understanding of the mechanisms of YN is constantly evolving, and there is a need for further research to fully explore and appreciate the significance of this ancient science and its potential efficacy on BP. Considering the results and the multifactorial role of YN, it can act as a safe and reliable adjuvant therapy to complement the pharmacological treatment of hypertension. However, further studies with larger sample sizes, longer follow-up periods, and homogenous populations are warranted. CONCLUSION This meta-analysis suggests that YN is effective in reducing SBP and DBP, particularly in individuals with hypertension. The results highlight the potential of YN as a complementary therapy for hypertension management. Healthcare providers may consider recommending YN to patients with hypertension as an adjuvant therapy to medication. Further studies are required to identify standardized optimal forms and durations of YN best suited for hypertension management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Navdeep Ahuja
- Dept. of Medicine, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Rishikesh, Uttarakhand, India
| | - Praag Bhardwaj
- Dept. of Medicine, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Rishikesh, Uttarakhand, India
| | - Monika Pathania
- Dept. of Medicine, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Rishikesh, Uttarakhand, India.
| | - Dilasha Sethi
- Division of Yoga and Life Sciences, Swami Vivekananda Yoga Anusandhana Samsthana - SVYASA, Bangaluru, Karnataka, India
| | - Arjun Kumar
- Dept. of Medicine, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Rishikesh, Uttarakhand, India
| | - Ashwin Parchani
- Dept. of Medicine, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Rishikesh, Uttarakhand, India
| | - Akshita Chandel
- Dept. of General Medicine, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Bilaspur, Himachal Pradesh, India
| | - Aashish Phadke
- Division of Endocrine and Metabolic Disorders - Lifestyle Modulations and Yoga Modules, Kasturba Health Society - Medical Research Centre, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
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Galluzzi S, Lanfredi M, Moretti DV, Rossi R, Meloni S, Tomasoni E, Frisoni GB, Chiesa A, Pievani M. Cognitive, psychological, and physiological effects of a web-based mindfulness intervention in older adults during the COVID-19 pandemic: an open study. BMC Geriatr 2024; 24:151. [PMID: 38350854 PMCID: PMC10865647 DOI: 10.1186/s12877-024-04766-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2023] [Accepted: 01/31/2024] [Indexed: 02/15/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The development of effective strategies to maintain good mental health of older adults is a public health priority. Mindfulness-based interventions have the potential to improve psychological well-being and cognitive functions of older adults, but little is known about the effect of such interventions when delivered through internet. During the COVID-19 pandemic we evaluated short- and long-term cognitive, psychological, and physiological effects of a mindfulness-based intervention (MBI) delivered via web-based videoconference in healthy older adults. METHODS Fifty older adults participated in an 8-week MBI, which comprised structured 2-h weekly group sessions. A comprehensive evaluation encompassing cognitive (verbal memory, attention and processing speed, executive functions) and psychological assessments (depression and anxiety symptoms, mindfulness, worries, emotion regulation strategies, well-being, interoceptive awareness and sleep) was conducted. Additionally, electroencephalography (EEG) data were recorded before and after the MBI and at the 6-month follow-up (T6). Data were analyzed using an intention-to-treat approach, using linear mixed models adjusted for age. The effect size for time was computed as omega squared. RESULTS We observed significant improvements from pre-MBI to post-MBI and at the T6 across several measures. These improvements were notable in the areas of verbal memory (California Verbal Learning Test, p ≤ .007), attention and executive functions (Trail Making Test A and BA, p < .050), interoceptive awareness (Multidimensional Assessment of Interoceptive Awareness, p = .0002 for self-regulation and p < .05 for noticing, body listening, and trusting dimensions), and rumination (Heidelberg Form for Emotion Regulation Strategies, p = .018). These changes were associated with low to medium effect size. Moreover, we observed significant changes in EEG patterns, with a decrease in alpha1 (p = .004) and an increase in alpha2 (p < .0001) from pre-MBI to T6. Notably, improvements in TMTBA and rumination were correlated with the decrease in alpha1 (p < .050), while improvements in TMTA were linked to the increase in alpha2 (p = .025). CONCLUSIONS The results of our study show that a web-based MBI in older adults leads to improvements in cognitive and psychological measures, with associated modulations in specific brain rhythms. While these findings are promising, further controlled studies are required to validate these preliminary results. TRIAL REGISTRATION The trial has been registered with the United States National Library of Medicine at the National Institutes of Health Registry of Clinical Trials under the code NCT05941143 on July 12, 2023.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samantha Galluzzi
- Laboratory Alzheimer's Neuroimaging and Epidemiology, IRCCS Istituto Centro San Giovanni Di Dio Fatebenefratelli, Brescia, Italy
| | - Mariangela Lanfredi
- Unit of Psychiatry, IRCCS Istituto Centro San Giovanni Di Dio Fatebenefratelli, Brescia, Italy.
| | - Davide Vito Moretti
- Alzheimer's Rehabilitation Unit, IRCCS Istituto Centro San Giovanni Di Dio Fatebenefratelli, Brescia, Italy
| | - Roberta Rossi
- Unit of Psychiatry, IRCCS Istituto Centro San Giovanni Di Dio Fatebenefratelli, Brescia, Italy
| | - Serena Meloni
- Unit of Psychiatry, IRCCS Istituto Centro San Giovanni Di Dio Fatebenefratelli, Brescia, Italy
| | - Evita Tomasoni
- Laboratory Alzheimer's Neuroimaging and Epidemiology, IRCCS Istituto Centro San Giovanni Di Dio Fatebenefratelli, Brescia, Italy
| | | | - Alberto Chiesa
- Istituto Mente E Corpo, Bologna, Italy
- Associazione Di Psicologia Cognitiva - Scuola Di Psicoterapia Cognitiva, Rome, Italy
| | - Michela Pievani
- Laboratory Alzheimer's Neuroimaging and Epidemiology, IRCCS Istituto Centro San Giovanni Di Dio Fatebenefratelli, Brescia, Italy
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D’Andrea A, Croce P, O’Byrne J, Jerbi K, Pascarella A, Raffone A, Pizzella V, Marzetti L. Mindfulness meditation styles differently modulate source-level MEG microstate dynamics and complexity. Front Neurosci 2024; 18:1295615. [PMID: 38370436 PMCID: PMC10869546 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2024.1295615] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2023] [Accepted: 01/15/2024] [Indexed: 02/20/2024] Open
Abstract
Background The investigation of mindfulness meditation practice, classically divided into focused attention meditation (FAM), and open monitoring meditation (OMM) styles, has seen a long tradition of theoretical, affective, neurophysiological and clinical studies. In particular, the high temporal resolution of magnetoencephalography (MEG) or electroencephalography (EEG) has been exploited to fill the gap between the personal experience of meditation practice and its neural correlates. Mounting evidence, in fact, shows that human brain activity is highly dynamic, transiting between different brain states (microstates). In this study, we aimed at exploring MEG microstates at source-level during FAM, OMM and in the resting state, as well as the complexity and criticality of dynamic transitions between microstates. Methods Ten right-handed Theravada Buddhist monks with a meditative expertise of minimum 2,265 h participated in the experiment. MEG data were acquired during a randomized block design task (6 min FAM, 6 min OMM, with each meditative block preceded and followed by 3 min resting state). Source reconstruction was performed using eLORETA on individual cortical space, and then parcellated according to the Human Connect Project atlas. Microstate analysis was then applied to parcel level signals in order to derive microstate topographies and indices. In addition, from microstate sequences, the Hurst exponent and the Lempel-Ziv complexity (LZC) were computed. Results Our results show that the coverage and occurrence of specific microstates are modulated either by being in a meditative state or by performing a specific meditation style. Hurst exponent values in both meditation conditions are reduced with respect to the value observed during rest, LZC shows significant differences between OMM, FAM, and REST, with a progressive increase from REST to FAM to OMM. Discussion Importantly, we report changes in brain criticality indices during meditation and between meditation styles, in line with a state-like effect of meditation on cognitive performance. In line with previous reports, we suggest that the change in cognitive state experienced in meditation is paralleled by a shift with respect to critical points in brain dynamics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antea D’Andrea
- Department of Neuroscience, Imaging and Clinical Sciences, University of Chieti-Pescara, Chieti, Abruzzo, Italy
| | - Pierpaolo Croce
- Department of Neuroscience, Imaging and Clinical Sciences, University of Chieti-Pescara, Chieti, Abruzzo, Italy
| | - Jordan O’Byrne
- Department of Psychology, University of Montreal, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Karim Jerbi
- Department of Psychology, University of Montreal, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Annalisa Pascarella
- Institute for the Applications of Calculus “M. Picone”, National Research Council, Rome, Lazio, Italy
| | - Antonino Raffone
- Department of Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Lazio, Italy
| | - Vittorio Pizzella
- Department of Neuroscience, Imaging and Clinical Sciences, University of Chieti-Pescara, Chieti, Abruzzo, Italy
- Institute for Advanced Biomedical Technologies, University of Chieti-Pescara, Chieti, Abruzzo, Italy
| | - Laura Marzetti
- Department of Neuroscience, Imaging and Clinical Sciences, University of Chieti-Pescara, Chieti, Abruzzo, Italy
- Institute for Advanced Biomedical Technologies, University of Chieti-Pescara, Chieti, Abruzzo, Italy
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Heinilä E, Hyvärinen A, Parkkonen L, Parviainen T. Penalized canonical correlation analysis reveals a relationship between temperament traits and brain oscillations during mind wandering. Brain Behav 2024; 14:e3428. [PMID: 38361323 PMCID: PMC10869894 DOI: 10.1002/brb3.3428] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2023] [Revised: 12/13/2023] [Accepted: 01/29/2024] [Indexed: 02/17/2024] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION There has been a growing interest in studying brain activity under naturalistic conditions. However, the relationship between individual differences in ongoing brain activity and psychological characteristics is not well understood. We investigated this connection, focusing on the association between oscillatory activity in the brain and individually characteristic dispositional traits. Given the variability of unconstrained resting states among individuals, we devised a paradigm that could harmonize the state of mind across all participants. METHODS We constructed task contrasts that included focused attention (FA), self-centered future planning, and rumination on anxious thoughts triggered by visual imagery. Magnetoencephalography was recorded from 28 participants under these 3 conditions for a duration of 16 min. The oscillatory power in the alpha and beta bands was converted into spatial contrast maps, representing the difference in brain oscillation power between the two conditions. We performed permutation cluster tests on these spatial contrast maps. Additionally, we applied penalized canonical correlation analysis (CCA) to study the relationship between brain oscillation patterns and behavioral traits. RESULTS The data revealed that the FA condition, as compared to the other conditions, was associated with higher alpha and beta power in the temporal areas of the left hemisphere and lower alpha and beta power in the parietal areas of the right hemisphere. Interestingly, the penalized CCA indicated that behavioral inhibition was positively correlated, whereas anxiety was negatively correlated, with a pattern of high oscillatory power in the bilateral precuneus and low power in the bilateral temporal regions. This unique association was found in the anxious-thoughts condition when contrasted with the focused-attention condition. CONCLUSION Our findings suggest individual temperament traits significantly affect brain engagement in naturalistic conditions. This research underscores the importance of considering individual traits in neuroscience and offers an effective method for analyzing brain activity and psychological differences.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erkka Heinilä
- Faculty of Information TechnologyUniversity of JyväskyläJyväskyläFinland
| | - Aapo Hyvärinen
- Department of Computer ScienceUniversity of HelsinkiHelsinkiFinland
- Université Paris‐Saclay, Inria, CEAGif‐sur‐YvetteFrance
| | - Lauri Parkkonen
- Department of Neuroscience and Biomedical EngineeringAalto University School of ScienceEspooFinland
| | - Tiina Parviainen
- Centre of Interdisciplinary Brain Research, Department of Psychology, Faculty of Education and PsychologyUniversity of JyväskyläJyväskyläFinland
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Liyanagedera ND, Hussain AA, Singh A, Lal S, Kempton H, Guesgen HW. Common spatial pattern for classification of loving kindness meditation EEG for single and multiple sessions. Brain Inform 2023; 10:24. [PMID: 37688757 PMCID: PMC10492719 DOI: 10.1186/s40708-023-00204-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2023] [Accepted: 08/19/2023] [Indexed: 09/11/2023] Open
Abstract
While a very few studies have been conducted on classifying loving kindness meditation (LKM) and non-meditation electroencephalography (EEG) data for a single session, there are no such studies conducted for multiple session EEG data. Thus, this study aims at classifying existing raw EEG meditation data on single and multiple sessions to come up with meaningful inferences which will be highly beneficial when developing algorithms that can support meditation practices. In this analysis, data have been collected on Pre-Resting (before-meditation), Post-Resting (after-meditation), LKM-Self and LKM-Others for 32 participants and hence allowing us to conduct six pairwise comparisons for the four mind tasks. Common Spatial Patterns (CSP) is a feature extraction method widely used in motor imaginary brain computer interface (BCI), but not in meditation EEG data. Therefore, using CSP in extracting features from meditation EEG data and classifying meditation/non-meditation instances, particularly for multiple sessions will create a new path in future meditation EEG research. The classification was done using Linear Discriminant Analysis (LDA) where both meditation techniques (LKM-Self and LKM-Others) were compared with Pre-Resting and Post-Resting instances. The results show that for a single session of 32 participants, around 99.5% accuracy was obtained for classifying meditation/Pre-Resting instances. For the 15 participants when using five sessions of EEG data, around 83.6% accuracy was obtained for classifying meditation/Pre-Resting instances. The results demonstrate the ability to classify meditation/Pre-Resting data. Most importantly, this classification is possible for multiple session data as well. In addition to this, when comparing the classification accuracies of the six mind task pairs; LKM-Self, LKM-Others and Post-Resting produced relatively lower accuracies among them than the accuracies obtained for classifying Pre-Resting with the other three. This indicates that Pre-Resting has some features giving a better classification indicating that it is different from the other three mind tasks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nalinda D Liyanagedera
- School of Mathematical and Computational Sciences, Massey University, Palmerston North, 4410, New Zealand.
- Department of Computing & Information Systems, Faculty of Applied Sciences, Wayamba University of Sri Lanka, Kuliyapitiya, 60200, Sri Lanka.
| | - Ali Abdul Hussain
- School of Mathematical and Computational Sciences, Massey University, Palmerston North, 4410, New Zealand
| | - Amardeep Singh
- Universal College of Learning (UCOL), Palmerston North, 4410, New Zealand
| | - Sunil Lal
- School of Mathematical and Computational Sciences, Massey University, Palmerston North, 4410, New Zealand
| | - Heather Kempton
- School of Psychology, Massey University, Auckland, 0632, New Zealand
| | - Hans W Guesgen
- School of Mathematical and Computational Sciences, Massey University, Palmerston North, 4410, New Zealand
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Lazarou I, Oikonomou VP, Mpaltadoros L, Grammatikopoulou M, Alepopoulos V, Stavropoulos TG, Bezerianos A, Nikolopoulos S, Kompatsiaris I, Tsolaki M. Eliciting brain waves of people with cognitive impairment during meditation exercises using portable electroencephalography in a smart-home environment: a pilot study. Front Aging Neurosci 2023; 15:1167410. [PMID: 37388185 PMCID: PMC10306118 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2023.1167410] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2023] [Accepted: 05/03/2023] [Indexed: 07/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Objectives Meditation imparts relaxation and constitutes an important non-pharmacological intervention for people with cognitive impairment. Moreover, EEG has been widely used as a tool for detecting brain changes even at the early stages of Alzheimer's Disease (AD). The current study investigates the effect of meditation practices on the human brain across the AD spectrum by using a novel portable EEG headband in a smart-home environment. Methods Forty (40) people (13 Healthy Controls-HC, 14 with Subjective Cognitive Decline-SCD and 13 with Mild Cognitive Impairment-MCI) participated practicing Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (Session 2-MBSR) and a novel adaptation of the Kirtan Kriya meditation to the Greek culture setting (Session 3-KK), while a Resting State (RS) condition was undertaken at baseline and follow-up (Session 1-RS Baseline and Session 4-RS Follow-Up). The signals were recorded by using the Muse EEG device and brain waves were computed (alpha, theta, gamma, and beta). Results Analysis was conducted on four-electrodes (AF7, AF8, TP9, and TP10). Statistical analysis included the Kruskal-Wallis (KW) nonparametric analysis of variance. The results revealed that both states of MBSR and KK lead to a marked difference in the brain's activation patterns across people at different cognitive states. Wilcoxon Signed-ranks test indicated for HC that theta waves at TP9, TP10 and AF7, AF8 in Session 3-KK were statistically significantly reduced compared to Session 1-RS Z = -2.271, p = 0.023, Z = -3.110, p = 0.002 and Z = -2.341, p = 0.019, Z = -2.132, p = 0.033, respectively. Conclusion The results showed the potential of the parameters used between the various groups (HC, SCD, and MCI) as well as between the two meditation sessions (MBSR and KK) in discriminating early cognitive decline and brain alterations in a smart-home environment without medical support.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ioulietta Lazarou
- Centre for Research and Technology Hellas (CERTH), Information Technologies Institute (ITI), Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Vangelis P. Oikonomou
- Centre for Research and Technology Hellas (CERTH), Information Technologies Institute (ITI), Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Lampros Mpaltadoros
- Centre for Research and Technology Hellas (CERTH), Information Technologies Institute (ITI), Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Margarita Grammatikopoulou
- Centre for Research and Technology Hellas (CERTH), Information Technologies Institute (ITI), Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Vasilis Alepopoulos
- Centre for Research and Technology Hellas (CERTH), Information Technologies Institute (ITI), Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Thanos G. Stavropoulos
- Centre for Research and Technology Hellas (CERTH), Information Technologies Institute (ITI), Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Anastasios Bezerianos
- Centre for Research and Technology Hellas (CERTH), Information Technologies Institute (ITI), Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Spiros Nikolopoulos
- Centre for Research and Technology Hellas (CERTH), Information Technologies Institute (ITI), Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Ioannis Kompatsiaris
- Centre for Research and Technology Hellas (CERTH), Information Technologies Institute (ITI), Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Magda Tsolaki
- Centre for Research and Technology Hellas (CERTH), Information Technologies Institute (ITI), Thessaloniki, Greece
- 1st Department of Neurology, Faculty of Health Sciences, G.H. “AHEPA”, School of Medicine, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (AUTH), Thessaloniki, Greece
- Greek Association of Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Disorders (GAADRD), Thessaloniki, Greece
- Laboratory of Neurodegenerative Diseases, Center for Interdisciplinary Research and Innovation (CIRI–AUTh), Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece
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Shrivastava A, Singh BK, Krishna D, Krishna P, Singh D. Effect of Heartfulness Meditation Among Long-Term, Short-Term and Non-meditators on Prefrontal Cortex Activity of Brain Using Machine Learning Classification: A Cross-Sectional Study. Cureus 2023; 15:e34977. [PMID: 36938168 PMCID: PMC10019753 DOI: 10.7759/cureus.34977] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 02/14/2023] [Indexed: 02/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Meditation is a mental practice with health benefits and may increase activity in the prefrontal cortex of the brain. Heartfulness meditation (HM) is a modified form of rajyoga meditation supported by a unique feature called "yogic transmission." This feasibility study aimed to explore the effect of HM on electroencephalogram (EEG) connectivity parameters of long-term meditators (LTM), short-term meditators (STM), and non-meditators (NM) with an application of machine learning models and determining classifier methods that can effectively discriminate between the groups. Materials and methods EEG data were collected from 34 participants. The functional connectivity parameters, correlation coefficient, clustering coefficient, shortest path, and phase locking value were utilized as a feature vector for classification. To evaluate the various states of HM practice, the categorization was done between (LTM, NM) and (STM, NM) using a multitude of machine learning classifiers. Results The classifier's performances were evaluated based on accuracy using 10-fold cross-validation. The results showed that the accuracy of machine learning models ranges from 84% to 100% while classifying LTM and NM, and accuracy from 80% to 93% while classifying STM and NM. It was found that decision trees, support vector machines, k-nearest neighbors, and ensemble classifiers performed better than linear discriminant analysis and logistic regression. Conclusion This is the first study to our knowledge employing machine learning for the classification among HM meditators and NM The results indicated that machine learning classifiers with EEG functional connectivity as a feature vector could be a viable marker for accessing meditation ability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anurag Shrivastava
- Biomedical Engineering, National Institute of Technology, Raipur, Raipur, IND
| | - Bikesh K Singh
- Biomedical Engineering, National Institute of Technology, Raipur, Raipur, IND
| | - Dwivedi Krishna
- Yoga Life Sciences, Swami Vivekananda Yoga Anusandhana Samsthana (S-VYASA), Bengluru, IND
| | | | - Deepeshwar Singh
- Yoga and Life Sciences, Swami Vivekananda Yoga Anusandhana Samsthana (S-VYASA), Bangalore, IND
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Cooper AC, Ventura B, Northoff G. Beyond the veil of duality-topographic reorganization model of meditation. Neurosci Conscious 2022; 2022:niac013. [PMID: 36237370 PMCID: PMC9552929 DOI: 10.1093/nc/niac013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2022] [Revised: 08/08/2022] [Accepted: 09/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Meditation can exert a profound impact on our mental life, with proficient practitioners often reporting an experience free of boundaries between a separate self and the environment, suggesting an explicit experience of "nondual awareness." What are the neural correlates of such experiences and how do they relate to the idea of nondual awareness itself? In order to unravel the effects that meditation has on the brain's spatial topography, we review functional magnetic resonance imaging brain findings from studies specific to an array of meditation types and meditator experience levels. We also review findings from studies that directly probe the interaction between meditation and the experience of the self. The main results are (i) decreased posterior default mode network (DMN) activity, (ii) increased central executive network (CEN) activity, (iii) decreased connectivity within posterior DMN as well as between posterior and anterior DMN, (iv) increased connectivity within the anterior DMN and CEN, and (v) significantly impacted connectivity between the DMN and CEN (likely a nonlinear phenomenon). Together, these suggest a profound organizational shift of the brain's spatial topography in advanced meditators-we therefore propose a topographic reorganization model of meditation (TRoM). One core component of the TRoM is that the topographic reorganization of DMN and CEN is related to a decrease in the mental-self-processing along with a synchronization with the more nondual layers of self-processing, notably interoceptive and exteroceptive-self-processing. This reorganization of the functionality of both brain and self-processing can result in the explicit experience of nondual awareness. In conclusion, this review provides insight into the profound neural effects of advanced meditation and proposes a result-driven unifying model (TRoM) aimed at identifying the inextricably tied objective (neural) and subjective (experiential) effects of meditation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Austin Clinton Cooper
- Integrated Program of Neuroscience, Room 302, Irving Ludmer Building, 1033 Pine Avenue W., McGill University, Montreal, QC H3A 1A1, Canada
| | - Bianca Ventura
- Mind, Brain Imaging and Neuroethics Research Unit, Institute of Mental Health Research, University of Ottawa, 1145 Carling Avenue, Ottawa, ON K1Z 7K4, Canada
| | - Georg Northoff
- Mind, Brain Imaging and Neuroethics Research Unit, Institute of Mental Health Research, University of Ottawa, 1145 Carling Avenue, Ottawa, ON K1Z 7K4, Canada
- Mental Health Center, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, 866 Yuhangtang Road, Hangzhou 310058, China
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Krishna D, Prasanna K, Angadi B, Singh BK, Anurag S, Deepeshwar S. Heartfulness Meditation Alters Electroencephalogram Oscillations: An Electroencephalogram Study. Int J Yoga 2022; 15:205-214. [PMID: 36949832 PMCID: PMC10026341 DOI: 10.4103/ijoy.ijoy_138_22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2022] [Revised: 09/20/2022] [Accepted: 10/03/2022] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Heartfulness meditation (HM) has been shown to have positive impacts on cognition and well-being, which makes it important to look into the neurophysiological mechanisms underlying the phenomenon. Aim A cross-sectional study was conducted on HM meditators and nonmeditators to assess frontal electrical activities of the brain and self-reported anxiety and mindfulness. Settings and Design The present study employed a cross-sectional design. Methods Sixty-one participants were recruited, 28 heartfulness meditators (average age male: 31.54 ± 4.2 years and female: 30.04 ± 7.1 years) and 33 nonmeditators (average age male: 25 ± 8.5 years and female: 23.45 ± 6.5 years). An electroencephalogram (EEG) was employed to assess brain activity during baseline (5 min), meditation (10 min), transmission (10 min) and post (5 min). Self-reported mindfulness and anxiety were also collected in the present study. The EEG power spectral density (PSD) and coherence were processed using MATLAB. The statistical analysis was performed using an independent sample t-test for trait mindfulness and anxiety, repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) for state mindfulness and anxiety, and Two-way multivariate ANOVA for EEG spectral frequency and coherence. Results The results showed higher state and trait mindfulness, P < 0.05 and P < 0.01, respectively, and lower state and trait anxiety, P < 0.05 and P < 0.05, respectively. The PSD outcomes showed higher theta (P < 0.001) and alpha (P < 0.01); lower beta (P < 0.001) and delta (P < 0.05) power in HM meditators compared to nonmeditators. Similarly, higher coherence was found in the theta (P < 0.01), alpha (P < 0.05), and beta (P < 0.01) bands in HM meditators. Conclusions These findings suggest that HM practice may result in wakeful relaxation and internalized attention that can influence cognition and behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dwivedi Krishna
- Division of Yoga and Life Sciences, Swami Vivekananda Yoga Anusandhana Samsthana, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India
| | | | - Basavaraj Angadi
- Division of Yoga and Life Sciences, Swami Vivekananda Yoga Anusandhana Samsthana, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India
| | - Bikesh Kumar Singh
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, National Institute of Technology, Raipur, Chhattisgarh, India
| | - Shrivastava Anurag
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, National Institute of Technology, Raipur, Chhattisgarh, India
| | - Singh Deepeshwar
- Division of Yoga and Life Sciences, Swami Vivekananda Yoga Anusandhana Samsthana, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India
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Walter N, Hinterberger T. Determining states of consciousness in the electroencephalogram based on spectral, complexity, and criticality features. Neurosci Conscious 2022; 2022:niac008. [PMID: 35903410 PMCID: PMC9319002 DOI: 10.1093/nc/niac008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2021] [Revised: 04/19/2022] [Accepted: 04/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
This study was based on the contemporary proposal that distinct states of consciousness
are quantifiable by neural complexity and critical dynamics. To test this hypothesis, it
was aimed at comparing the electrophysiological correlates of three meditation conditions
using nonlinear techniques from the complexity and criticality framework as well as power
spectral density. Thirty participants highly proficient in meditation were measured with
64-channel electroencephalography (EEG) during one session consisting of a task-free
baseline resting (eyes closed and eyes open), a reading condition, and three meditation
conditions (thoughtless emptiness, presence monitoring, and focused attention). The data
were analyzed applying analytical tools from criticality theory (detrended fluctuation
analysis, neuronal avalanche analysis), complexity measures (multiscale entropy, Higuchi’s
fractal dimension), and power spectral density. Task conditions were contrasted, and
effect sizes were compared. Partial least square regression and receiver operating
characteristics analysis were applied to determine the discrimination accuracy of each
measure. Compared to resting with eyes closed, the meditation categories emptiness and
focused attention showed higher values of entropy and fractal dimension. Long-range
temporal correlations were declined in all meditation conditions. The critical exponent
yielded the lowest values for focused attention and reading. The highest discrimination
accuracy was found for the gamma band (0.83–0.98), the global power spectral density
(0.78–0.96), and the sample entropy (0.86–0.90). Electrophysiological correlates of
distinct meditation states were identified and the relationship between nonlinear
complexity, critical brain dynamics, and spectral features was determined. The meditation
states could be discriminated with nonlinear measures and quantified by the degree of
neuronal complexity, long-range temporal correlations, and power law distributions in
neuronal avalanches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nike Walter
- Department of Psychosomatic Medicine, Section of Applied Consciousness Sciences, University Hospital of Regensburg , Franz-Josef-Strauß Allee 11, Regensburg 93059, Germany
| | - Thilo Hinterberger
- Department of Psychosomatic Medicine, Section of Applied Consciousness Sciences, University Hospital of Regensburg , Franz-Josef-Strauß Allee 11, Regensburg 93059, Germany
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Van't Westeinde A, Patel KD. Heartfulness Meditation: A Yogic and Neuroscientific Perspective. Front Psychol 2022; 13:806131. [PMID: 35619781 PMCID: PMC9128627 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2022.806131] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2022] [Accepted: 04/21/2022] [Indexed: 12/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Today, as research into the contemplative sciences is being widely referenced, the research community would benefit from an understanding of the Heartfulness method of meditation. Heartfulness offers an in-depth experiential practice focused on the evolution of human consciousness using the ancient technique of Pranahuti (yogic Transmission) during Meditation, in combination with the more active mental practice of “Cleaning.” Both are enabled by initiation into the Heartfulness practices. These unique features distinguish Heartfulness from other paths that have been described in the scientific literature thus far. In this introductory paper, we present the Heartfulness practices, the philosophy upon which the practices are based, and we reflect on the putative mechanisms through which Heartfulness could exert its effects on the human body and mind in the light of scientific research that has been done in other meditation systems. We conclude with suggestions for future research on the Heartfulness way of meditation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Annelies Van't Westeinde
- Pediatric Endocrinology Unit (QB83), Department of Women's and Children's Health, Karolinska Institute, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Kamlesh D Patel
- Heartfulness Institute, Kanha Shanti Vanam, Hyderabad, India
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Emotion Self-Regulation in Neurotic Students: A Pilot Mindfulness-Based Intervention to Assess Its Effectiveness through Brain Signals and Behavioral Data. SENSORS 2022; 22:s22072703. [PMID: 35408317 PMCID: PMC9002961 DOI: 10.3390/s22072703] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2021] [Revised: 02/24/2022] [Accepted: 03/04/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Neuroticism has recently received increased attention in the psychology field due to the finding of high implications of neuroticism on an individual’s life and broader public health. This study aims to investigate the effect of a brief 6-week breathing-based mindfulness intervention (BMI) on undergraduate neurotic students’ emotion regulation. We acquired data of their psychological states, physiological changes, and electroencephalogram (EEG), before and after BMI, in resting states and tasks. Through behavioral analysis, we found the students’ anxiety and stress levels significantly reduced after BMI, with p-values of 0.013 and 0.027, respectively. Furthermore, a significant difference between students in emotion regulation strategy, that is, suppression, was also shown. The EEG analysis demonstrated significant differences between students before and after MI in resting states and tasks. Fp1 and O2 channels were identified as the most significant channels in evaluating the effect of BMI. The potential of these channels for classifying (single-channel-based) before and after BMI conditions during eyes-opened and eyes-closed baseline trials were displayed by a good performance in terms of accuracy (~77%), sensitivity (76–80%), specificity (73–77%), and area-under-the-curve (AUC) (0.66–0.8) obtained by k-nearest neighbor (KNN) and support vector machine (SVM) algorithms. Mindfulness can thus improve the self-regulation of the emotional state of neurotic students based on the psychometric and electrophysiological analyses conducted in this study.
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Cheron G, Ristori D, Petieau M, Simar C, Zarka D, Cebolla AM. Effects of Pulsed-Wave Chromotherapy and Guided Relaxation on the Theta-Alpha Oscillation During Arrest Reaction. Front Psychol 2022; 13:792872. [PMID: 35310269 PMCID: PMC8929400 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2022.792872] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2021] [Accepted: 01/13/2022] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
The search for the best wellness practice has promoted the development of devices integrating different technologies and guided meditation. However, the final effects on the electrical activity of the brain remain relatively sparse. Here, we have analyzed of the alpha and theta electroencephalographic oscillations during the realization of the arrest reaction (AR; eyes close/eyes open transition) when a chromotherapy session performed in a dedicated room [Rebalance (RB) device], with an ergonomic bed integrating pulsed-wave light (PWL) stimulation, guided breathing, and body scan exercises. We demonstrated that the PWL induced an evoked-related potential characterized by the N2-P3 components maximally recorded on the fronto-central areas and accompanied by an event-related synchronization (ERS) of the delta–theta–alpha oscillations. The power of the alpha and theta oscillations was analyzed during repeated ARs testing realized along with the whole RB session. We showed that the power of the alpha and theta oscillations was significantly increased during the session in comparison to their values recorded before. Of the 14 participants, 11 and 6 showed a significant power increase of the alpha and theta oscillations, respectively. These increased powers were not observed in two different control groups (n = 28) who stayed passively outside or inside the RB room but without any type of stimulation. These preliminary results suggest that PWL chromotherapy and guided relaxation induce measurable electrical brain changes that could be beneficial under neuropsychiatric perspectives.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guy Cheron
- Laboratory of Neurophysiology and Movement Biomechanics, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium.,ULB Neuroscience Institute, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium.,Laboratory of Neuroscience, Université de Mons, Mons, Belgium
| | - Dominique Ristori
- Laboratory of Neurophysiology and Movement Biomechanics, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium.,ULB Neuroscience Institute, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Mathieu Petieau
- Laboratory of Neurophysiology and Movement Biomechanics, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium.,ULB Neuroscience Institute, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Cédric Simar
- Laboratory of Neurophysiology and Movement Biomechanics, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium.,ULB Neuroscience Institute, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium.,Machine Learning Group, Computer Science Department, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium
| | - David Zarka
- Laboratory of Neurophysiology and Movement Biomechanics, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium.,ULB Neuroscience Institute, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Ana-Maria Cebolla
- Laboratory of Neurophysiology and Movement Biomechanics, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium.,ULB Neuroscience Institute, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium
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Fucci E, Poublan-Couzardot A, Abdoun O, Lutz A. No effect of focused attention and open monitoring meditation on EEG auditory mismatch negativity in expert and novice practitioners. Int J Psychophysiol 2022; 176:62-72. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpsycho.2022.03.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2021] [Revised: 03/11/2022] [Accepted: 03/23/2022] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
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Sefat O, Salehinejad MA, Danilewitz M, Shalbaf R, Vila-Rodriguez F. Combined Yoga and Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation Increase Functional Connectivity and Synchronization in the Frontal Areas. Brain Topogr 2022; 35:207-218. [DOI: 10.1007/s10548-022-00887-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2021] [Accepted: 01/02/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
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Lu Y, Rodriguez-Larios J. Nonlinear EEG signatures of mind wandering during breath focus meditation. CURRENT RESEARCH IN NEUROBIOLOGY 2022; 3:100056. [DOI: 10.1016/j.crneur.2022.100056] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2022] [Revised: 08/31/2022] [Accepted: 09/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
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