Alterations of regional cerebral glucose metabolism using ¹⁸F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron-emission tomography/computed tomography and electroencephalography analysis during mindfulness breathing in Anapanasati meditation: A preliminary analysis

Abstract

Anapanasati is a core meditation of a breath-centered practice in the Buddhist Theravada tradition, which may have some neurological mechanism effects on the brain. To gain insight into the neurological mechanisms involved in Anapanasati meditation, we measured the alterations of regional cerebral glucose metabolism during Anapanasati meditation using positron-emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) and electroencephalography (EEG) analysis. This prospective study was conducted in six right-handed volunteer participants (two men, four women; aged: 32–67 years) who underwent ¹⁸F-fluorodeoxyglucose (¹⁸F-FDG) PET/CT scans to compare the alterations of regional cerebral glucose metabolism during normal consciousness and Anapanasati meditation states. Spectral EEG analysis was performed throughout the investigations. Statistical parametric mapping was used for the ¹⁸F-FDG PET/CT image analyses. The visual analysis demonstrated moderate-to-marked increased metabolism in posterior cingulate cortex in all six patients, while mild-to-moderate increased uptake in the whole frontal lobe was also observed in four patients and precuneus in four patients. Meanwhile, the semiquantitative analysis yielded an increase of regional cerebral glucose metabolism in the right mid-to-posterior cingulate gyrus (P < 0.000), with visible alpha waves on the frontal of the EEG findings. Our semiquantitative analysis showed a significantly increased metabolism only in the posterior cingulate cortex, but visually, there was also an increased metabolism in the whole frontal lobe in most of the patients correlating with EEG findings.

Keywords

Anapanasati meditation - cerebral metabolic rate of glucose - electroencephalography - positron-emission tomography

Acknowledgments

The authors would particularly like to extend our special thanks to Bhikkhu Piyalak Panyavaro from Wat Nyanavesakavan for the Anapanasati meditation teaching and practice, as well as the acquired-knowledge and technical supports during the intervention phase of the study. We would also like to acknowledge the help of Savittree Suratako and Wantana Juiklom in routine PET/CT imaging. English editing provided by Mrs. Sunattee Kessung was also appreciated. In addition, we thank Adam Phillips, PhD, from Edanz Group (www.edanzediting.com/ac) for editing a draft of this manuscript.

Financial support and sponsorship

This study was financially supported Chulabhorn Hospital, Chulabhorn Royal Academy.

Publikationsverlauf

Eingereicht: 01. Juli 2020

Angenommen: 13. August 2020

Artikel online veröffentlicht:
24. März 2022

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