Experienced meditators show reduced default mode network activation with enhanced PCC–dorsolateral PFC connectivity during meditation¶

Claim · All claims
Evidence · 1 study · review r2 · q2
Currency · newest study 2026 · not yet checked against its sources · not reviewed by a person

Subclaims¶

q2 i? The review reports that experienced mindfulness meditators showed reduced medial PFC and PCC activation during meditation alongside enhanced PCC–dorsolateral PFC functional connectivity, interpreted as trained disengagement from self-referential mind-wandering. → Husain et al. 2026

Evidence¶

Husain et al. 2026¶

Husain, W., Ammar, A., Wusqa, U. T., Farooq, M., Tariq, Z., Pandi-Perumal, S. R., BaHammam, A. S., Trabelsi, K., Griffiths, M. D., Pakpour, A., & Jahrami, H. (2026). The Neuroscience of Religious and Spiritual Practices: A Systematic Review of Neurotheological Evidence. Brain and Behavior. doi:10.1002/brb3.71733

q2 · i? · review · r2

Narrative synthesis (SWiM) of neuroimaging studies of meditation; the review reports, citing Brewer et al. 2011, "reduced activation in medial PFC and posterior cingulate cortex (PCC) nodes" with enhanced PCC–dlPFC connectivity. No effect sizes printed.

"Experienced mindfulness meditators showed reduced activation in medial PFC and posterior cingulate cortex (PCC) nodes during all meditation types, alongside enhanced functional connectivity between the PCC and dorsolateral PFC, reflecting a trained capacity to detect and disengage from self‐referential mind‐wandering"

Discussion¶

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