PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Saampras Ganesan
AU  - Bradford Moffat
AU  - Nicholas T. Van Dam
AU  - Valentina Lorenzetti
AU  - Andrew Zalesky
TI  - Meditation attenuates Default-mode activity: a pilot study using ultra-high strength MRI
AID  - 10.1101/2023.01.02.522524
DP  - 2023 Jan 01
TA  - bioRxiv
PG  - 2023.01.02.522524
4099  - http://biorxiv.org/content/early/2023/01/03/2023.01.02.522524.short
4100  - http://biorxiv.org/content/early/2023/01/03/2023.01.02.522524.full
AB  - Objectives Mapping the neurobiology of meditation using 3 Tesla functional MRI (fMRI) has burgeoned recently. However, limitations in signal quality and neuroanatomical resolution have impacted reliability and precision of extant findings. Although ultra-high strength 7 Tesla MRI overcomes these limitations, investigation of meditation using 7 Tesla fMRI is still in its infancy.Methods In this feasibility study, we scanned 10 individuals who were beginner meditators using 7 Tesla fMRI while they performed focused attention meditation and non-focused rest. We also measured and adjusted the fMRI signal for key physiological differences between meditation and rest. Finally, we explored the 2-week impact of the single fMRI meditation session on mindfulness, anxiety and focused attention attributes.Results Group-level task fMRI analyses revealed significant reductions in activity during meditation relative to rest in Default-mode network hubs, i.e., antero-medial prefrontal and posterior cingulate cortices, precuneus, as well as visual and thalamic regions. These findings survived stringent statistical corrections for fluctuations in physiological responses which demonstrated significant differences (p < 0.05/n, Bonferroni controlled) between meditation and rest. Compared to baseline, State Mindfulness Scale (SMS) scores were significantly elevated (F = 8.16, p<0.05/n, Bonferroni controlled) following the fMRI meditation session, and were closely maintained at 2-week follow up.Conclusions This pilot study establishes the feasibility and utility of investigating focused attention meditation using ultra-high strength (7 Tesla) fMRI, by supporting widespread evidence that focused attention meditation attenuates Default-mode activity responsible for self-referential processing. Future functional neuroimaging studies of meditation should control for physiological confounds and include behavioural assessments.Competing Interest StatementThe authors have declared no competing interest.