How does training in mindfulness meditation effect the brain structure and cognition?
| ISRCTN | ISRCTN68095597 |
|---|---|
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1186/ISRCTN68095597 |
| Protocol serial number | 25931/26960 |
| Sponsor | Aarhus University (Denmark) |
| Funder | Ministry of Health (Denmark) |
- 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
Scientific
Center for Functionally Integrative Neuroscience
Aarhus University
Norrebrogade 44
Aarhus
8000
Denmark
Study information
| Primary study design | Interventional |
|---|---|
| Study design | Single centre randomised wait list controlled parallel group trial |
| Secondary study design | Randomised controlled trial |
| Study type | Participant information sheet |
| Scientific title | A randomised controlled trial using MRI scans and cognitive testing to determine the effect of meditation on brain structure and cognition |
| Study objectives | We 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) studied | Meditation practice |
| Intervention | 1. 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 type | Other |
| Primary outcome measure(s) |
Pre-frontal (IFG) and insular cortex density measured by MRI at baseline and 6 weeks |
| Key secondary outcome measure(s) |
Measured at baseline and 6 weeks: |
| Completion date | 01/03/2011 |
Eligibility
| Participant type(s) | Patient |
|---|---|
| Age group | Adult |
| Lower age limit | 18 Years |
| Upper age limit | 40 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Target sample size at registration | 60 |
| Key inclusion criteria | 1. 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 criteria | 1. 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 enrolment | 03/12/2010 |
| Date of final enrolment | 01/03/2011 |
Locations
Countries of recruitment
- Denmark
Study participating centre
Center for Functionally Integrative Neuroscience
Aarhus
8000
Denmark
8000
Denmark
Results and Publications
| Individual participant data (IPD) Intention to share | No |
|---|---|
| IPD sharing plan summary | Not provided at time of registration |
| IPD sharing plan |
Study outputs
| Output type | Details | Date created | Date added | Peer reviewed? | Patient-facing? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Participant information sheet | Participant information sheet | 11/11/2025 | 11/11/2025 | No | Yes |
