How Does Meditation Affect the Default Mode Network: A Systematic Review.
Level 1 - systematic review of randomized trials
Systematic review of 16 controlled trials
PubMed 37581797 · doi:10.1007/978-3-031-31986-0_22
What was done
Following PRISMA guidelines, investigators searched PubMed, Scopus, and Embase through June 2020 for studies evaluating the effect of meditation on the Default Mode Network (DMN). Across 306 identified articles, 16 controlled trials comprising 853 experienced and novice meditators across diverse traditions (Mindfulness, Samatha, Raja Yoga, Transcendental Meditation, Vipassana, and Theravada Insight meditation) were included.
What was found
The abstract provides no numerical data, effect sizes, or specific statistical values. It reports qualitatively that meditative interventions affect DMN operation and that differences exist in functional connectivity between networks.
Why it matters
This review collates controlled trial evidence on how different contemplative traditions modulate neural functional connectivity and default mode network activity.
Limits
No quantitative findings or specific directional connectivity metrics are provided in the abstract. The review combines heterogeneous meditation styles, does not specify whether trials were randomized, and only includes literature published through June 2020.
Cited by
- supports Meditation shuts off or deactivates the brain's default mode network.