Electroencephalography microstates highlight specific mindfulness traits.
D Zarka, C Cevallos, P Ruiz, M Petieau, A M Cebolla, A Bengoetxea, G Cheron
The European journal of neuroscience April 1, 2024 Peer reviewed DOI: 10.1111/ejn.16247 via PubMed
Summary
After participating in mindfulness-based stress reduction training, 18 individuals showed a significant increase in their mindfulness scores compared to 18 control participants. The mindfulness group exhibited lower duration, occurrence, and coverage of a specific EEG microstate (microstate C) than the control group. Additionally, certain microstate parameters were negatively correlated with mindfulness traits, particularly non-reactivity. These findings suggest that microstate dynamics may play a role in understanding mindfulness traits.
Study at a glance
| Design | observational cohort |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 36 |
| Population | 18 participants who completed mindfulness training and 18 matched control participants |
| Key finding | MBSR participants showed lower duration, occurrence, and coverage of microstate C compared to control participants. |
Abstract
The present study aimed to investigate the spontaneous dynamics of large-scale brain networks underlying mindfulness as a dispositional trait, through resting-state electroencephalography (EEG) microstates analysis. Eighteen participants had attended a standardized mindfulness-based stress reduction training (MBSR), and 18 matched waitlist individuals (CTRL) were recorded at rest while they were passively exposed to auditory stimuli. Participants' mindfulness traits were assessed with the Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire (FFMQ). To further explore the relationship between microstate dynamics at rest and mindfulness traits, participants were also asked to rate their experience according to five phenomenal dimensions. After training, MBSR participants showed a highly significant increase in FFMQ score, as well as higher observing and non-reactivity FFMQ sub-scores than CTRL participants. Microstate analysis revealed four classes of microstates (A-D) in global clustering across all subjects. The MBSR group showed lower duration, occurrence and coverage of microstate C than the control group. Moreover, these microstate C parameters were negatively correlated to non-reactivity sub-scores of FFMQ across participants, whereas the microstate A occurrence was negatively correlated to FFMQ total score. Further analysis of participants' self-reports suggested that MBSR participants showed a better sensory-affective integration of auditory interferences. In line with previous studies, our results suggest that temporal dynamics of microstate C underlie specifically the non-reactivity trait of mindfulness. These findings encourage further research into microstates in the evaluation and monitoring of the impact of mindfulness-based interventions on the mental health and well-being of individuals.