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Hippocampal circuits underlie improvements in self-reported anxiety following mindfulness training.

Brain and behavior
September 1, 2020
Gunes Sevinc et al. (11 authors)
Journal ArticleRandomized Controlled TrialResearch Support, N.I.H., ExtramuralHuman StudyClinical
Study Details

Study Goal

The researchers aimed to examine the role of structural changes in hippocampal subfields following mindfulness training and its association with fear extinction and self-reported anxiety.

Results Summary

Mindfulness training was associated with increased subiculum volume and decreased hippocampal connectivity to lateral occipital regions during contextual fear retrieval, as well as reduced self-reported anxiety. The findings suggest mindfulness may enhance resilience by modulating hippocampal circuits involved in memory retrieval.

Population

Not specified in the abstract.

Effective Dosage

Not mentioned.

Duration

Not specified in the abstract.

Interactions

None mentioned.

Extracted Claims (4)
InterventionDirectionEndpointPopulationDosageImpactClaim #
mindfulness training
increase
connectivity in hippocampal circuits
-
-
increased
#1
mindfulness training
increase
subiculum
-
-
increases in
#2
mindfulness training
decrease
hippocampal connectivity to lateral occipital regions
-
-
decreased
#3
mindfulness training
decrease
self-reported anxiety
-
-
decreases in
#4
Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Mindfulness meditation has successfully been applied to cultivate skills in self-regulation of emotion, as it employs the unbiased present moment awareness of experience. This heightened attention to and awareness of sensory experience has been postulated to create an optimal therapeutic exposure condition and thereby improve extinction learning. We recently demonstrated increased connectivity in hippocampal circuits during the contextual retrieval of extinction memory following mindfulness training. METHODS: Here, we examine the role of structural changes in hippocampal subfields following mindfulness training in a randomized controlled longitudinal study using a two-day fear-conditioning and extinction protocol. RESULTS: We demonstrate an association between mindfulness training-related increases in subiculum and decreased hippocampal connectivity to lateral occipital regions during contextual retrieval of extinguished fear. Further, we demonstrate an association between decreased connectivity and decreases in self-reported anxiety following mindfulness training. CONCLUSIONS: The results highlight the role of the subiculum in gating interactions with contextual stimuli during memory retrieval and, also, the mechanisms through which mindfulness training may foster resilience.

Medical Subject Headings (MeSH)
AnxietyHippocampusHumansLongitudinal StudiesMindfulnessSelf Report
Study Links
Quality Scores
SafetyNot Assessed
Efficacy85/10
Quality90/10
Citation Metrics
Total Citations13
Citations/Year2.6
Relative Citation Ratio0.97
NIH Percentile49%
Research Impact Scores
APT Score0.75
Weight Score2.54
Normalized Score0.72
Related Supplements
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