Contributed by Michael I. Posner, July 27, 2010 (sent for review July 2, 2010)
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.
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.
