Mindfulness allays anxiety and modulate the underlying brain networks
Poster No:
526
Submission Type:
Abstract Submission
Authors:
Yuwen He1, Seng-Hang Lei2, Anqi Gu3, Wenyue Gao3, Jiaze Li3, Jieting Chen4, Zhen Yuan5
Institutions:
1University of Macau, Macau, Macau, 2University of Macau, Macau, China, 3UM, Macau, Macao, 4Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China, 5Centre for Cognitive and Brain Sciences, University of Macau, Taipa, Macau
First Author:
Co-Author(s):
Introduction:
Abstract:
Previous studies demonstrated that self-awareness-related intervention would modulate the brain activations in the cognitive control circuit (Zhang et al., 2024). However, little was known about whether mindfulness practice would also modulate a similar cognitive control circuit.
Previous studies demonstrated that self-awareness-related intervention would modulate the brain activations in the cognitive control circuit (Zhang et al., 2024). However, little was known about whether mindfulness practice would also modulate a similar cognitive control circuit.
Methods:
In our current study, 36 participants were recruited to take part in a 4-week mindfulness workshop and 25 participants were recruited in the waitlist group (HC). All participants performed memory and cognitive control tasks while they were under imaging scan at two time points (Figure 1). Linear regression models were adopted to use modulated brain activations to predict the changes in anxiety level and meta-cognition. Further dynamic causal modeling and dynamic functional connectivity analyses examined how mindfulness practice modulated the brain networks underlying cognitive performances.
Results:
As shown in Figure 2, mindfulness practice reduced the anxiety level in participants of the intervention group (MD) while this effect was not observed in the HC both at T2 and T3. There were interactional correlation patterns between altered anxiety and altered meta-cognition in MD and HC groups (Figure 3), which indicated meta-cognition plays a different role in regulating individuals' anxiety. The linear regression results revealed that brain activations in brain regions in the precuneus left middle frontal gyrus, and superior parietal lobule could predict the altered anxiety and meta-cognition but revealed differential interaction patterns in different groups while performing memory (Figure 4) or cognitive control task (Figure 5). Further analyses uncovered the brain connections (Figure 6 & 7) and brain networks (Figure 8) modulated by mindfulness practice.
Conclusions:
Mindfulness practice can modulate brain activations while engaging different components of executive function, which may underlie improved mental health. These modulated brain activations were related to the altered brain connections and brain networks triggered by mindfulness practice. In summary, our current study unraveled the modulated brain networks underlying improved mental health triggered by mindfulness practice.
Disorders of the Nervous System:
Psychiatric (eg. Depression, Anxiety, Schizophrenia) 1
Higher Cognitive Functions:
Executive Function, Cognitive Control and Decision Making 2
Keywords:
Anxiety
Behavioral Therapy
FUNCTIONAL MRI
Meta-Cognition
Therapy
1|2Indicates the priority used for review
·Figure 1-4
·Figure 5-8