Larger hippocampal dimensions in meditation practitioners: differential effects in women and men

Frontiers in Psychology
Eileen LüdersFlorian Kurth

Abstract

On average, the human hippocampus shows structural differences between meditators and non-meditators as well as between men and women. However, there is a lack of research exploring possible sex effects on hippocampal anatomy in the framework of meditation. Thus, we obtained high-resolution magnetic resonance imaging data from 30 long-term meditation practitioners (15 men/15 women) and 30 well-matched control subjects (15 men/15 women) to assess if hippocampus-specific effects manifest differently in male and female brains. Hippocampal dimensions were enlarged both in male and in female meditators when compared to sex- and age-matched controls. However, meditation effects differed between men and women in magnitude, laterality, and location on the hippocampal surface. Such sex-divergent findings may be due to genetic (innate) or acquired differences between male and female brains in the areas involved in meditation and/or suggest that male and female hippocampi are differently receptive to mindfulness practices.

References

Jul 1, 1994·Cerebral Cortex·P A FilipekV S Caviness
Nov 30, 2000·Neurology·R S BriellmannG D Jackson
Jul 9, 2004·Cerebral Cortex·Michio SuzukiMasayoshi Kurachi
Jul 28, 2004·NeuroImage·Paul M ThompsonArthur W Toga
Sep 12, 2006·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·Kristen L MackiewiczJack B Nitschke
May 3, 2008·The Journal of Neuropsychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences·Cornelia ExnerWinfried Rief
Sep 9, 2008·NeuroImage·John C MazziottaUNKNOWN Members of the International Consortium for Brain Mapping (ICBM)
Nov 19, 2008·Social Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience·Britta K HölzelDieter Vaitl
Nov 13, 2009·The Journal of Neuroscience : the Official Journal of the Society for Neuroscience·Eileen LudersArthur W Toga
Jan 15, 2010·The Journal of Neuroscience : the Official Journal of the Society for Neuroscience·Jill M GoldsteinNikos Makris
May 18, 2010·Vitamins and Hormones·Dai Mitsushima
Nov 13, 2010·Psychiatry Research·Britta K HölzelSara W Lazar
Jun 7, 2011·Neuroscience Letters·Abderazzak Mouiha, Simon Duchesne
Jun 15, 2011·NeuroImage·Eileen LudersArthur W Toga
Mar 7, 2012·Frontiers in Human Neuroscience·Eileen LudersChristian Gaser
Jul 21, 2012·Social Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience·Mei-Kei LeungTatia M C Lee
Sep 1, 2012·Autism Research and Treatment·Sonia Sequeira, Mahiuddin Ahmed
Oct 3, 2012·PloS One·Hiroki MurakamiHideki Ohira
Jan 26, 2013·The Journal of Craniofacial Surgery·Qing HanJincheng Wang
Jun 19, 2013·International Journal of Developmental Neuroscience : the Official Journal of the International Society for Developmental Neuroscience·Muqing LinMin-Ying Su
Aug 9, 2013·Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences·Andrew B NewbergDaniel A Monti
May 17, 2014·Nature·Janine A Clayton, Francis S Collins

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Citations

Dec 5, 2015·Frontiers in Psychology·Barbara Tomasino, Franco Fabbro
Feb 27, 2016·Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences·Bruce S McEwen
May 18, 2016·Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences·Eileen Luders, Nicolas Cherbuin
Feb 25, 2021·Brain Imaging and Behavior·Cyril R PernetAlison Zammit

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Software Mentioned

VBM8
SPM8

Related Concepts

Trending Feeds

COVID-19

Coronaviruses encompass a large family of viruses that cause the common cold as well as more serious diseases, such as the ongoing outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19; formally known as 2019-nCoV). Coronaviruses can spread from animals to humans; symptoms include fever, cough, shortness of breath, and breathing difficulties; in more severe cases, infection can lead to death. This feed covers recent research on COVID-19.

Blastomycosis

Blastomycosis fungal infections spread through inhaling Blastomyces dermatitidis spores. Discover the latest research on blastomycosis fungal infections here.

Nuclear Pore Complex in ALS/FTD

Alterations in nucleocytoplasmic transport, controlled by the nuclear pore complex, may be involved in the pathomechanism underlying multiple neurodegenerative diseases including Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Frontotemporal Dementia. Here is the latest research on the nuclear pore complex in ALS and FTD.

Applications of Molecular Barcoding

The concept of molecular barcoding is that each original DNA or RNA molecule is attached to a unique sequence barcode. Sequence reads having different barcodes represent different original molecules, while sequence reads having the same barcode are results of PCR duplication from one original molecule. Discover the latest research on molecular barcoding here.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Chronic fatigue syndrome is a disease characterized by unexplained disabling fatigue; the pathology of which is incompletely understood. Discover the latest research on chronic fatigue syndrome here.

Evolution of Pluripotency

Pluripotency refers to the ability of a cell to develop into three primary germ cell layers of the embryo. This feed focuses on the mechanisms that underlie the evolution of pluripotency. Here is the latest research.

Position Effect Variegation

Position Effect Variagation occurs when a gene is inactivated due to its positioning near heterochromatic regions within a chromosome. Discover the latest research on Position Effect Variagation here.

STING Receptor Agonists

Stimulator of IFN genes (STING) are a group of transmembrane proteins that are involved in the induction of type I interferon that is important in the innate immune response. The stimulation of STING has been an active area of research in the treatment of cancer and infectious diseases. Here is the latest research on STING receptor agonists.

Microbicide

Microbicides are products that can be applied to vaginal or rectal mucosal surfaces with the goal of preventing, or at least significantly reducing, the transmission of sexually transmitted infections. Here is the latest research on microbicides.