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Approaching dysphoric mood: state-effects of mindfulness meditation on frontal brain asymmetry.
- Source :
-
Biological psychology [Biol Psychol] 2013 Apr; Vol. 93 (1), pp. 105-13. Date of Electronic Publication: 2013 Feb 11. - Publication Year :
- 2013
-
Abstract
- Meditation-based interventions reduce the relapse risk in recurrently depressed patients. Randomized trials utilizing neurophysiologic outcome measures, however, have yielded inconsistent results with regard to a prophylactic effect. Although frontal brain asymmetry, assessed through electroencephalographic (EEG) alpha activity (8-13 Hz), is indicative of approach vs. withdrawal-related response dispositions and represents a vulnerability marker of depression, clinical trials have provided mixed results as to whether meditation has beneficial effects on alpha asymmetry. Inconsistencies might have arisen since such trials relied on resting-state recordings, instead of active paradigms under challenge, as suggested by contemporary notions of alpha asymmetry. We examined two groups of remitted, recurrently depressed females. In a "mindfulness support group", EEG was recorded during neutral rest, and rest following a negative mood induction. Subsequently, participants received initial meditation instructions. EEG was then obtained during an active period of guided mindfulness meditation and rest following the active period. In a "rumination challenge group", EEG was obtained during the same resting conditions, whereas in the active period, initial meditation instructions were followed by a rumination challenge. A significant shift in mid-frontal asymmetry, yielding a pattern indicative of approach motivation, was observed in the mindfulness support group, specifically during the meditation period. This indicates that mindfulness meditation may have a transient beneficial effect, which enables patients to take an approach-related motivational stance, particularly under circumstances of risk.<br /> (Copyright © 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)
- Subjects :
- Adult
Depression physiopathology
Depression psychology
Depressive Disorder physiopathology
Depressive Disorder psychology
Female
Humans
Middle Aged
Motivation physiology
Self Report
Surveys and Questionnaires
Affect physiology
Depression therapy
Depressive Disorder therapy
Frontal Lobe physiopathology
Meditation methods
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 1873-6246
- Volume :
- 93
- Issue :
- 1
- Database :
- MEDLINE
- Journal :
- Biological psychology
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 23410762
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biopsycho.2013.01.016