Table 3.
Coactivation/deactivation findings associated with meditation related changes of mPFC activity
| mPFC finding | Coactivation/deactivation ROI | Tested meditation type(s) | Study and findings | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ↑ mPFC activation | PCC/vPCu | ↑ Activation | MRM | Xu et al. (2014): increased vmPFC, dmPFC, and PCC activity during nondirective MRM |
| ↓ Activation | IBMT (FAM/OMM) | Tang et al. (2013): following meditation training there was increased ACC/mPFC activity along with decreased PCC activity during RS | ||
| FAM | Zeidan et al. (2013): increased vmPFC along with decreased PCC correlate with decreased anxiety as a result of meditation practice | |||
| CEN | ↑ Activation | IBMT (FAM/OMM) | Tang et al. (2013): following meditation training there was increased ACC/mPFC along with increased IFG/vlPFC activity during RS | |
| MRM | Xu et al. (2014): increased vmPFC, dmPFC, and IPL activity during nondirective MRM | |||
| Insula | ↑ Activation | FAM | Zeidan et al. (2013): increased vmPFC along with increased anterior insula correlate with decreased anxiety as a result of meditation practice | |
| IBMT (FAM/OMM) | Tang et al. (2015a): increased CBF in mPFC and vACC following FAM/OMM training | |||
| ACC | ↑ Activation | FAM | Hölzel et al. (2007): increased dmPFC and rACC activity when comparing Ems to NMs for a meditation vs mental arithmetic contrast | |
| MRM | Engström and Söderfeldt (2010): increased mPFC extending to ACC activity during MRM compared to RS | |||
| FAM | Zeidan et al. (2013): increased vmPFC and ACC activity along with correlate with decreased anxiety as a result of meditation practice | |||
| IBMT (FAM/OMM) | Tang et al. (2015a): increased CBF in mPFC and insula following FAM/OMM training | |||
| ↓ mPFC activation | PCC | ↓ Activation | FAM, OMM, and LKM | Brewer et al. (2011): decreased mPFC and PCC activity during FAM and LKM |
| OMM | Ives-Deliperi et al. (2011): decreased mPFC and PCu activity for OMM vs a visual task | |||
| FAM | Scheibner et al. (2017): decreased mPFC and PCC for FAM vs mind-wandering | |||
| CEN | ↑ Activation | MBSR (FAM/OMM/LKM) | Farb et al. (2007): decreased dmPFC and vmPFC along with increased dPFC and inferolateral PFC activity for EMs vs NMs during OMM | |
| MBSR (FAM/OMM/LKM) | Farb et al. (2012): decreased dmPFC and vmPFC along with increased lPFC activity for EMs vs NMs during “experiential focus” compared to “narrative focus” | |||
| Insula | ↑ Activation | MBSR (FAM/OMM/LKM) | Farb et al. (2007): decreased dmPFC and vmPFC along with increased insula activity for EMs vs NMs during OMM | |
| OMM | Ives-Deliperi et al. (2011): decreased mPFC and insula activity for OMM vs a visual task | |||
| MBSR (FAM/OMM/LKM) | Farb et al. (2012): decreased dmPFC and vmPFC along with increased insula activity for EMs vs NMs during “experiential focus” compared to “narrative focus” | |||
| ACC | ↑ Activation | OMM | Ives-Deliperi et al. (2011): decreased mPFC and vACC activity for OMM vs a visual task | |
| ↑ & ↓ mPFC activation | PCC | ↑ Activation | FAM | Dickenson et al. (2012): increased mPFC/rACC, dmPFC, PCC, and PCu activity during mind-wandering compared to FAM |
| FAM | Hasenkamp et al. (2012): increased mPFC and PCC activity during mind-wandering | |||
| Insula | ↑ Activation | FAM | Dickenson et al. (2012): increased dmPFC and mid insula activity during FAM compared to mind-wandering | |
| ACC | ↑ Activation | FAM | Dickenson et al. (2012): increased dmPFC and dACC activity during FAM compared to mind-wandering | |
Abbreviations: anterior cingulate cortex (ACC); dorsomedial prefrontal cortex (dmPFC); experienced meditators (EM); integrative body–mind training (IBMT); mantra recitation meditation (MRM); mean hours of meditation (MHM); medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC); mind-wandering (MW); mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR); naïve meditators (NM); ventromedial prefrontal cortex (vmPFC).