| Title |
Nondirective meditation activates default mode network and areas associated with memory retrieval and emotional processing
|
|---|---|
| Published in |
Frontiers in Human Neuroscience, January 2014
|
| DOI | 10.3389/fnhum.2014.00086 |
| Pubmed ID | |
| Authors |
Jian Xu, Alexandra Vik, Inge R. Groote, Jim Lagopoulos, Are Holen, Øyvind Ellingsen, Asta K. Håberg, Svend Davanger |
| Abstract |
Nondirective meditation techniques are practiced with a relaxed focus of attention that permits spontaneously occurring thoughts, images, sensations, memories, and emotions to emerge and pass freely, without any expectation that mind wandering should abate. These techniques are thought to facilitate mental processing of emotional experiences, thereby contributing to wellness and stress management. The present study assessed brain activity by functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) in 14 experienced practitioners of Acem meditation in two experimental conditions. In the first, nondirective meditation was compared to rest. Significantly increased activity was detected in areas associated with attention, mind wandering, retrieval of episodic memories, and emotional processing. In the second condition, participants carried out concentrative practicing of the same meditation technique, actively trying to avoid mind wandering. The contrast nondirective meditation > concentrative practicing was characterized by higher activity in the right medial temporal lobe (parahippocampal gyrus and amygdala). In conclusion, the present results support the notion that nondirective meditation, which permits mind wandering, involves more extensive activation of brain areas associated with episodic memories and emotional processing, than during concentrative practicing or regular rest. |
X Demographics
The data shown below were collected from the profiles of 44 X users who shared this research output. Click here to find out more about how the information was compiled.
Geographical breakdown
| Country | Count | As % |
|---|---|---|
| United States | 10 | 23% |
| Norway | 4 | 9% |
| United Kingdom | 4 | 9% |
| Ireland | 3 | 7% |
| France | 2 | 5% |
| Switzerland | 1 | 2% |
| Brazil | 1 | 2% |
| Netherlands | 1 | 2% |
| Spain | 1 | 2% |
| Other | 2 | 5% |
| Unknown | 15 | 34% |
Demographic breakdown
| Type | Count | As % |
|---|---|---|
| Members of the public | 37 | 84% |
| Scientists | 6 | 14% |
| Practitioners (doctors, other healthcare professionals) | 1 | 2% |
Mendeley readers
The data shown below were compiled from readership statistics for 306 Mendeley readers of this research output. Click here to see the associated Mendeley record.
Geographical breakdown
| Country | Count | As % |
|---|---|---|
| United States | 10 | 3% |
| United Kingdom | 2 | <1% |
| Chile | 1 | <1% |
| France | 1 | <1% |
| Brazil | 1 | <1% |
| Germany | 1 | <1% |
| Indonesia | 1 | <1% |
| India | 1 | <1% |
| New Zealand | 1 | <1% |
| Other | 1 | <1% |
| Unknown | 286 | 93% |
Demographic breakdown
| Readers by professional status | Count | As % |
|---|---|---|
| Student > Ph. D. Student | 64 | 21% |
| Researcher | 53 | 17% |
| Student > Master | 44 | 14% |
| Student > Bachelor | 43 | 14% |
| Professor | 14 | 5% |
| Other | 53 | 17% |
| Unknown | 35 | 11% |
| Readers by discipline | Count | As % |
|---|---|---|
| Psychology | 107 | 35% |
| Neuroscience | 34 | 11% |
| Medicine and Dentistry | 32 | 10% |
| Agricultural and Biological Sciences | 24 | 8% |
| Engineering | 15 | 5% |
| Other | 46 | 15% |
| Unknown | 48 | 16% |
Attention Score in Context
This research output has an Altmetric Attention Score of 181. This is our high-level measure of the quality and quantity of online attention that it has received. This Attention Score, as well as the ranking and number of research outputs shown below, was calculated when the research output was last mentioned on 05 March 2023.
All research outputs
#205,751
of 24,137,435 outputs
Outputs from Frontiers in Human Neuroscience
#93
of 7,421 outputs
Outputs of similar age
#1,903
of 314,513 outputs
Outputs of similar age from Frontiers in Human Neuroscience
#6
of 124 outputs
Altmetric has tracked 24,137,435 research outputs across all sources so far. Compared to these this one has done particularly well and is in the 99th percentile: it's in the top 5% of all research outputs ever tracked by Altmetric.
So far Altmetric has tracked 7,421 research outputs from this source. They typically receive a lot more attention than average, with a mean Attention Score of 14.9. This one has done particularly well, scoring higher than 98% of its peers.
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We're also able to compare this research output to 124 others from the same source and published within six weeks on either side of this one. This one has done particularly well, scoring higher than 95% of its contemporaries.