How does training in mindfulness meditation effect the brain structure and cognition?

ISRCTN ISRCTN68095597
DOI https://doi.org/10.1186/ISRCTN68095597
Secondary identifying numbers 25931/26960
Submission date
23/11/2010
Registration date
19/05/2011
Last edited
19/05/2011
Recruitment status
No longer recruiting
Overall study status
Completed
Condition category
Other
Prospectively registered
Protocol
Statistical analysis plan
Results
Individual participant data
Record updated in last year

Plain English summary of protocol

Not provided at time of registration

Contact information

Dr Peter Vestergaard-Poulsen
Scientific

Center for Functionally Integrative Neuroscience
Aarhus University
Norrebrogade 44
Aarhus
8000
Denmark

Study information

Study designSingle centre randomised wait list controlled parallel group trial
Primary study designInterventional
Secondary study designRandomised controlled trial
Study setting(s)Hospital
Study typeTreatment
Participant information sheet Not available in web format, please use contact details below to request a patient information sheet
Scientific titleA randomised controlled trial using MRI scans and cognitive testing to determine the effect of meditation on brain structure and cognition
Study objectivesWe will examine whether there is a causal relationship between meditation practice and the brain anatomy as well as number of physiological and cognitive parameters.
We are testing multiple hypotheses of training novices for 6 weeks, however our main hypotheses are:
1. Signifigant pre-frontal (IFG) and insular cortex density increase for meditation group (MG) measured by MRI.
2. Significant decrease in default mode network connectivity, correlated with increased insular density and improved self-regulation (stop accuracy) and error awareness
3. Signifigantly increased emotional stroop effect, with greater insula response to emotional distractors yet increased stroop accuracy
Ethics approval(s)The Local Ethics Committee on clinical research approved on the 23rd of August 2010 (ref: 25931/26960)
Health condition(s) or problem(s) studiedMeditation practice
Intervention1. We studied normal subjects with no prior meditation, or related training undergoing intensive meditation training based on a set of breathing exercises and mindfulness techniques
2. We included 60 university students of which 30 randomly chosen subjects will practice daily 20 minutes for 6 weeks
3. The other 30 subjects (will be the waitlist for meditation training) will act as a control group to check for i.e. training effects in the cognitive tests by being a reading group with same frequency of training and focusing on the narrative content only
Intervention typeOther
Primary outcome measurePre-frontal (IFG) and insular cortex density measured by MRI at baseline and 6 weeks
Secondary outcome measuresMeasured at baseline and 6 weeks:
1. Default-mode network connectivity
2. Stop accuracy and error awareness
3. Emotional stroop
Overall study start date03/12/2010
Completion date01/03/2011

Eligibility

Participant type(s)Patient
Age groupAdult
Lower age limit18 Years
Upper age limit40 Years
SexBoth
Target number of participants60
Key inclusion criteria1. Either sex, aged 18-40 years, ethnic Danes
2. Right handed
3. Health subjects with no history of neurological disorders, psychological and/or psychiatric, cardiovascular or respiratory diseases, brain injury, cancer, addiction to drugs/alcohol, severe impediment to limb movement, hearing and vision
4. Normal MRI brain scan
Key exclusion criteria1. Frequent diving, high altitude climbing or flying or other activities related to the respiratory system
2. Recent biofeedback training, hypnosis and acupuncture (due to the possible modulating of the vagal output)
Date of first enrolment03/12/2010
Date of final enrolment01/03/2011

Locations

Countries of recruitment

  • Denmark

Study participating centre

Center for Functionally Integrative Neuroscience
Aarhus
8000
Denmark

Sponsor information

Aarhus University (Denmark)
University/education

Center for Functionally Integrative Neuroscience
Norrebrogade 44
Aarhus
8000
Denmark

ROR logo "ROR" https://ror.org/01aj84f44

Funders

Funder type

Government

Ministry of Health (Denmark)

No information available

Results and Publications

Intention to publish date
Individual participant data (IPD) Intention to shareNo
IPD sharing plan summaryNot provided at time of registration
Publication and dissemination planNot provided at time of registration
IPD sharing plan