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Research Article

Short-term meditation induces white matter changes in the anterior cingulate

Yi-Yuan Tang, Qilin Lu, Xiujuan Geng, Elliot A. Stein, Yihong Yang, and Michael I. Posner
  1. aInstitute of Neuroinformatics and Lab for Body and Mind, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian 116024, China;
  2. bDepartment of Psychology, University of Oregon, Eugene, OR 97403; and
  3. cNeuroimaging Research Branch, National Institute on Drug Abuse-Intramural Research Program, Baltimore, MD 21224

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PNAS first published August 16, 2010; https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1011043107
Yi-Yuan Tang
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  • For correspondence: yiyuan@uoregon.edu mposner@uoregon.edu
Qilin Lu
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Xiujuan Geng
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Elliot A. Stein
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Yihong Yang
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Michael I. Posner
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  • For correspondence: yiyuan@uoregon.edu mposner@uoregon.edu
  1. Contributed by Michael I. Posner, July 27, 2010 (sent for review July 2, 2010)

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Abstract

The anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) is part of a network implicated in the development of self-regulation and whose connectivity changes dramatically in development. In previous studies we showed that 3 h of mental training, based on traditional Chinese medicine (integrative body–mind training, IBMT), increases ACC activity and improves self-regulation. However, it is not known whether changes in white matter connectivity can result from small amounts of mental training. We here report that 11 h of IBMT increases fractional anisotropy (FA), an index indicating the integrity and efficiency of white matter in the corona radiata, an important white-matter tract connecting the ACC to other structures. Thus IBMT could provide a means for improving self-regulation and perhaps reducing or preventing various mental disorders.

  • anterior cingulate cortex
  • anterior corona radiata
  • integrative body–mind training
  • relaxation training
  • self-regulation

Footnotes

  • 1To whom correspondence may be addressed. E-mail: yiyuan{at}uoregon.edu or mposner{at}uoregon.edu.
  • Author contributions: Y.-Y.T. and M.I.P. designed research; Y.-Y.T. performed research; Y.-Y.T., Q.L., X.G., and Y.Y. analyzed data; and Y.-Y.T., E.A.S., Y.Y., and M.I.P. wrote the paper.

  • The authors declare no conflict of interest.

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    Short-term meditation induces white matter changes in the anterior cingulate
    Yi-Yuan Tang, Qilin Lu, Xiujuan Geng, Elliot A. Stein, Yihong Yang, Michael I. Posner
    Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences Aug 2010, 201011043; DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1011043107

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    Short-term meditation induces white matter changes in the anterior cingulate
    Yi-Yuan Tang, Qilin Lu, Xiujuan Geng, Elliot A. Stein, Yihong Yang, Michael I. Posner
    Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences Aug 2010, 201011043; DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1011043107
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