Details

Autor(en) / Beteiligte

• Ng, Hei‐Yin Hydra
• Wu, Changwei W.
• Huang, Feng‐Ying
• Huang, Chih‐Mao
• Hsu, Chia‐Fen
• Chao, Yi‐Ping
• Jung, Tzyy‐Ping
• Chuang, Chun‐Hsiang

Titel

Enhanced electroencephalography effective connectivity in frontal low‐gamma band correlates of emotional regulation after mindfulness training

Ist Teil von

• Journal of neuroscience research, 2023-06, Vol.101 (6), p.901-915

Ort / Verlag

United States: Wiley Subscription Services, Inc

Erscheinungsjahr

2023

Quelle

MEDLINE

Beschreibungen/Notizen

• Practicing mindfulness, focusing attention on the internal and external experiences occurring in the present moment with open and nonjudgement stance, can lead to the development of emotional regulation skills. Yet, the effective connectivity of brain regions during mindfulness has been largely unexplored. Studies have shown that mindfulness practice promotes functional connectivity in practitioners, potentially due to improved emotional regulation abilities and increased connectivity in the lateral prefrontal areas. To examine the changes in effective connectivity due to mindfulness training, we analyzed electroencephalogram (EEG) signals taken before and after mindfulness training, focusing on training‐related effective connectivity changes in the frontal area. The mindfulness training group participated in an 8‐week mindfulness‐based stress reduction (MBSR) program. The control group did not take part. Regardless of the specific mindfulness practice used, low‐gamma band effective connectivity increased globally after the mindfulness training. High‐beta band effective connectivity increased globally only during Breathing. Moreover, relatively higher outgoing effective connectivity strength was seen during Resting and Breathing and Body‐scan. By analyzing the changes in outgoing and incoming connectivity edges, both F7 and F8 exhibited strong parietal connectivity during Resting and Breathing. Multiple regression analysis revealed that the changes in effective connectivity of the right lateral prefrontal area predicted mindfulness and emotional regulation abilities. These results partially support the theory that the lateral prefrontal areas have top‐down modulatory control, as these areas have high outflow effective connectivity, implying that mindfulness training cultivates better emotional regulation. This study illustrated the relationship between the effective connectivity of neurophysiological signal and emotional regulation in mindfulness practitioners. The top‐down theory may address the neural network mechanism of mindfulness‐enhanced emotional regulation. The EEG effective connectivity strength indicated in this study may serve as objective indicators for evaluating mindfulness practices.