Title
Dynamic functional connectivity markers of objective trait mindfulness.
Abstract
While mindfulness is commonly viewed as a skill to be cultivated through practice, untrained individuals can also vary widely in dispositional mindfulness. Prior research has identified static neural connectivity correlates of this trait. Here, we use dynamic functional connectivity (DFC) analysis of resting-state fMRI to study time-varying connectivity patterns associated with naturally varying and objectively measured trait mindfulness. Participants were selected from the top and bottom tertiles of performers on a breath-counting task to form high trait mindfulness (HTM; N = 21) and low trait mindfulness (LTM; N = 18) groups. DFC analysis of resting state fMRI data revealed that the HTM group spent significantly more time in a brain state associated with task-readiness – a state characterized by high within-network connectivity and greater anti-correlations between task-positive networks and the default-mode network (DMN). The HTM group transitioned between brain states more frequently, but the dwell time in each episode of the task-ready state was equivalent between groups. These results persisted even after controlling for vigilance. Across individuals, certain connectivity metrics were weakly correlated with self-reported mindfulness as measured by the Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire, though these did not survive multiple comparisons correction. In the static connectivity maps, HTM individuals had greater within-network connectivity in the DMN and the salience network, and greater anti-correlations between the DMN and task-positive networks. In sum, DFC features robustly distinguish HTM and LTM individuals, and may be useful biological markers for the measurement of dispositional mindfulness.
Year
DOI
Venue
2018
10.1016/j.neuroimage.2018.04.056
NeuroImage
Keywords
Field
DocType
Mindfulness,Resting-state fMRI,Dynamic functional connectivity,State transitions,Breath-counting
Mindfulness,Biology,Trait,Salience (neuroscience),Resting state fMRI,Multiple comparisons problem,Cognitive psychology,Vigilance (psychology),Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire,Bioinformatics,Dynamic functional connectivity
Journal
Volume
ISSN
Citations 
176
1053-8119
2
PageRank 
References 
Authors
0.36
12
5
Name
Order
Citations
PageRank
Julian Lim1404.86
James Teng220.36
Amiya Patanaik361.45
Jesisca Tandi4442.91
Stijn A. A. Massar530.73