Objectives

Many studies on various meditation types have reported regional gray matter volume changes using voxel-based morphometric analysis of structural MRI, but there are no studies done on structural MRI of Rajyoga meditators. The objective of the present study is to analyze and compare gray matter volume changes of brain regions in meditators and non-meditators and further study the effects of meditation experience on alterations in various brain regions. These regions were then correlated and compared to positive thought scores of participants.

Methods

Forty participants in each group (closely matched for age, gender, and handedness) were selected after obtaining their informed consent, and voxel-based morphometric analysis was carried out using their structural MRI scans.

Results

On voxel-wise comparison of the brain scans, meditators were observed to have significantly higher global gray matter volume and significant regional gray matter volume increases in the right superior frontal gyrus, left inferior orbitofrontal cortex, left inferior parietal gyrus, left posterior cerebellum, left middle temporal gyrus, bilateral precuneus, and cuneus. Additionally, long-term meditators particularly had significantly higher positive thinking scores compared to non-meditators. On multiple regression analysis, gray matter volume of the left superior parietal gyrus and left inferior parietal gyrus had a positive association, whereas the left posterior cerebellum had a negative association with hours of meditation experience. With the positive thoughts score, a significant relationship was found in the right superior temporal gyrus in meditators.

Conclusions

These findings indicate that Rajyoga meditation experience/practice enhances gray matter volume of specific brain regions and positive thoughts.

中文翻译：

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Rajyoga 冥想经验诱导增强的积极思想并改变大脑区域的灰质体积：一项横断面研究

目标

许多关于各种冥想类型的研究报告了使用基于体素的结构 MRI 形态测量分析的区域灰质体积变化，但没有对 Rajyoga 冥想者的结构 MRI 进行研究。本研究的目的是分析和比较冥想者和非冥想者大脑区域的灰质体积变化，并进一步研究冥想体验对不同大脑区域变化的影响。然后将这些区域关联起来，并与参与者的积极思维得分进行比较。

方法

在获得他们的知情同意后，每组选择 40 名参与者（年龄、性别和惯用手密切匹配），并使用他们的结构 MRI 扫描进行基于体素的形态测量分析。

结果

在脑部扫描的体素比较中，观察到冥想者在右侧额上回、左侧眶额下皮层、左侧顶下回、左侧小脑后部、左侧具有显着更高的整体灰质体积和显着的区域灰质体积增加颞中回、双侧楔前叶和楔骨。此外，与非冥想者相比，长期冥想者的积极思维得分明显更高。在多元回归分析中，左顶上回和左顶下回的灰质体积与冥想时间呈正相关，而左小脑后部与冥想时间呈负相关。随着积极的想法得分，

结论

这些发现表明 Rajyoga 冥想体验/练习增强了特定大脑区域的灰质体积和积极的想法。