Brief mindfulness training increased glutamate metabolism in the anterior cingulate cortex. Issue 16 (4th November 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Tang, Yi-Yuan; Askari, Pegah; Choi, Changho
• Is Part Of: NeuroReport. Volume 31:Issue 16(2020)
• Publication Date: 2020-11-04
• Subjects: anterior cingulate cortex -- choline -- glutamate -- mindfulness meditation -- integrative body-mind training -- proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy -- N-acetylaspartate; Neurosciences -- Periodicals; Nervous system -- Periodicals; Neurophysiology -- Periodicals; Nervous System Diseases -- Periodicals; Nervous System Physiological Phenomena -- Periodicals; Neurosciences -- Periodicals; 616.805
• DOI: 10.1097/WNR.0000000000001527
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0959-4965

Abstract

Abstract : Mindfulness meditation has become a promising intervention for promoting health and well-being. Neuroimaging studies have shown its beneficial effects on brain functional activity, connectivity, and structures following months to years of practice. A series of randomized controlled trials indicated that one form of mindfulness meditation, the integrative body-mind training (IBMT) induces brain functional and structural changes in brain regions related to self-control networks such as the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) after 2–10 h of practice. However, whether IBMT could change brain metabolism in the ACC remains unexplored. Utilizing a noninvasive 3T proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy, our results showed a significant increase in glutamate metabolism in the rostral ACC following 10 h of IBMT, suggesting that brief training not only increases ACC activity and structure, but also induces neurochemical changes in regions of the self-control networks. To our knowledge, this is the first study demonstrating the positive effects on brain metabolism in the ACC following brief intervention, suggesting a potential mechanism and implications of mindfulness meditation in ameliorating disorders such as addiction, depression and schizophrenia, which often involve the dysfunction of self-control networks and glutamatergic system (i.e. lower glutamate metabolism).