Effects of Meditation Experience on Functional Connectivity of Distributed Brain Networks
Frontiers in Human Neuroscience January 1, 2012 Wendy Hasenkamp, Lawrence W. Barsalou 377 citations
More meditation experience is associated with lasting changes in functional connectivity within brain attentional networks, even when not meditating. Experienced meditators showed increased connectivity within attentional networks and between attentional regions and medial frontal areas compared to less experienced meditators. These neural changes may underlie improved cognitive skills, such as maintaining attention and disengaging from distraction, that are often reported with meditation practice. Because altered connectivity was observed during rest, this suggests a transfer of cognitive abilities into daily life.