Open AccessCentral and autonomic nervous system interaction is altered by short-term meditation
Author(s) -
YiYuan Tang,
Yunsheng Ma,
Yaxin Fan,
Hao Feng,
Junhong Wang,
Feng Shi,
Qilin Lu,
Bing Hu,
Lin Yao,
Jian Li,
Ye Zhang,
Yan Wang,
Li Zhou,
Ming Fan
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
proceedings of the national academy of sciences of the united states of america
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 5.011
H-Index - 771
eISSN - 1091-6490
pISSN - 0027-8424
DOI - 10.1073/pnas.0904031106
Subject(s) - autonomic nervous system , heart rate , relaxation (psychology) , meditation , neuroscience , anterior cingulate cortex , central nervous system , psychology , heart rate variability , electroencephalography , cardiology , medicine , blood pressure , cognition , philosophy , theology
Five days of integrative body-mind training (IBMT) improves attention and self-regulation in comparison with the same amount of relaxation training. This paper explores the underlying mechanisms of this finding. We measured the physiological and brain changes at rest before, during, and after 5 days of IBMT and relaxation training. During and after training, the IBMT group showed significantly better physiological reactions in heart rate, respiratory amplitude and rate, and skin conductance response (SCR) than the relaxation control. Differences in heart rate variability (HRV) and EEG power suggested greater involvement of the autonomic nervous system (ANS) in the IBMT group during and after training. Imaging data demonstrated stronger subgenual and adjacent ventral anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) activity in the IBMT group. Frontal midline ACC theta was correlated with high-frequency HRV, suggesting control by the ACC over parasympathetic activity. These results indicate that after 5 days of training, the IBMT group shows better regulation of the ANS by a ventral midfrontal brain system than does the relaxation group. This changed state probably reflects training in the coordination of body and mind given in the IBMT but not in the control group. These results could be useful in the design of further specific interventions.