Study

• Background

  mindfulness: involves thinking, sensation, info processed by brain

  -study what parts of brain involved in changes in attention/thinking association

  MRI used to measure small structural changes in concentration

  previous studies were cross-sectional (those who had meditated/had not)

  -caused by pre-existing differences between participants (misleading conclusion)
• Aim

  identify changes in specific brain regions (roi) and whole brain by comparing grey matter concentrations before/after mindfulness course
• Research Method

  Experiment with longitudinal design

  -pre/post tested and compared to control group

  
  

  MRI results compares w/ experimental MBSR group/control not experiencing mindfulness intervention

  -independent measures
• Independent Variable

  exposure to 8-week mindfulness-based intervention, Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR)

  -2.5hr session each week (8)

  -full day session at sixth week
• Mindfulness Exercises

  intended to develop awareness of present moment experience and compass non-judgmental view

  -45 min rec guidance (how to engage everyday life/cope w stress) w/ instructions as 'daily hw'

  
  

  Body Scan: attention guided throughout whole body; perception as complete whole

  
  

  Mindful Yoga: gentle stretching, slow movements, breathing exercises, raise awareness mom to moment experience

  
  

  Sitting Meditation: focuses on sensations of breathing, progresses to sounds, thoughts, emotions (5 senses)
• Dependent Variable

  change in grey matter concentration assessed using MRI scans (pre/post)

  -comp questionnaires to measure 5 mindfulness scales
• Sample

  recruited from ppl already enrolled in MBSR courses at University of Mas

  -enrolled to help with stress reduction/referred by doctor

  -phys/psych healthy, age 25-55yrs

  -safe to have MRI scans: (no metals in bodies/not claustrophobic)

  -committed to attend sessions, completed hw exercises

  
  

  LIMITED experience meditation classes:

  -none in last 6 months

  -max 4 in last 5 years/10 in lifetime
• Experimental Sample

  Initially 8 males 10 females (18), mean age 38yrs

  -fell to 16 after 2 males left after 1st MRI scan (discomfort)

  -13 Caucasian, I Asian, 1 African am, 1 multi-ethnic
• Control Sample (wait-list)

  7 males 10 females (17), mean age 39 yrs

  -13 Caucasian, 2 Asian, 2 African American, 1 Hispanic
• Procedure

  exp/control group completed Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire (FFMQ), 39 items (7 items each, 5 subscales added) likert-type scale

  
  

  brain scans: exp 2 weeks before/after 8 week MBSR intervention (56) cg(66)

  
  

  data used: regions of interest (RoI) hippocampus, bilateral insulae analysis, whole brain analysis

  -reported time spent on hw total/on each 3
• FFMQ

  observing: noticing internal/external stimuli, thoughts, feelings, sensations (sights, sounds, smells)

  describing: mentally labelling observations with words

  
  

  acting w awareness: being attentive to current surroundings rather than resp automatically/absentmindedly

  
  

  non-judging: (of inner exp) not evaluating sensations, cognitions, or emotions

  non-reactivity: (to inner exp) allowing thoughts and feelings to drift in and out
• Results: Scores

  exp group: average 22.6hours mindfulness hw (27min per day)

  -none of 3 measures sig correlated

  useable FFMQ data obtained from 14 MBSR/control par

  -MBSR sig increased mindfulness scores 3 subscales (pre/post questionnaire)

  -greated than control on all 3
• Results: Concentration

  Regions of Interest: left hippocampus

  -no difference at start of study w control group

  -changes in RoI detected MBSR group between pre/post test

  *didn't correlate w hw/changes in FFMQ

  Whole Brain Analysis:

  4 clusters of MBSR sig increased in grey matter concentration

  -posterior cingulate cortex

  -temporo-parietal junction

  -2 parts cerebellum (lateral/cerebellar)

  *no sig dec in grey matter conc MBSR, small in control
• Conclusion: RoI

  structural changes in left hippocampus arise within 8week pd of MBSR

  -localized increases/dec in hippocampal volume demonstrated in response to mindfulness meditation

  -hippocampus role in learning/memory = MBSR par had learning experiences that changed the hippocampal grey matter
• Conclusion: whole


  -increase in grey matter conc in left temporo-parietal junction (TJP), posterior cingulate cortex (PCC) and cerebellum caused structural changes in MBSR group

  TJP: self-referential processing

  -links to role of mindfulness training in learning to perceive body as 'complete whole'

  PCC: judge relevance of stimuli

  -links to noticing internal/external stimuli being + being attentive to mom-mom experience

  Cerebellum: regulating emotions/cog for healthy psych functioning

  -TJP/PCC contribute to considering alternating perspectives
• Strengths

  longitudinal study: lengthy intervention + cross sec

  -no participant variables confunding/altering results

  -allowed time for experiences of intervention to affect brain plasticity in measurable way

  -control group allowed comparisons to ensure changes not attributable to passage of time

  MRI scanner measure DV quantitative data

  -statistical analysis pre/post test levels grey matter vol

  -par cannot alter grey matter vol in response to demand characteristics increasing validity
• Weaknesses

  scanner not ecologically valid

  -noisy, confining, features potentially emotional

  gives objective data

  -unknowing about localization of specific behaviors when inferring

  absence of correlations between grey matter/ amount of hw comp or changes in FFMQ scores

  -suggest number minutes spend on mindfulness practice not direct cause of brain changes
• Ethics

  MRI scanner present risk physical (metal implants) and psychologic (claustrophobia) harm

  -all participants reported experiences stressed (doctor/self-referred)

  had to wait 8 weeks