Article,
Short-term meditation induces white matter changes in the anterior cingulate
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 107 (35): 15649--15652 (Aug 31, 2010)
DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1011043107
Abstract
10.1073/pnas.1011043107 The anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) is part of a network implicated in the development of self-regulation and whose connectivity changes dramatically in development. In previous studies we showed that 3 h of mental training, based on traditional Chinese medicine (integrative body–mind training, IBMT), increases ACC activity and improves self-regulation. However, it is not known whether changes in white matter connectivity can result from small amounts of mental training. We here report that 11 h of IBMT increases fractional anisotropy (FA), an index indicating the integrity and efficiency of white matter in the corona radiata, an important white-matter tract connecting the ACC to other structures. Thus IBMT could provide a means for improving self-regulation and perhaps reducing or preventing various mental disorders.
