Rhythmic brain stimulation reduces anxiety-related behavior in a mouse model based on meditation training
Abstract
Meditation training has been shown to reduce anxiety, lower stress hormones, improve attention and cognition, and increase rhythmic electrical activity in brain areas related to emotional control. We describe how artificially inducing rhythmic activity influenced mouse behavior. We induced rhythms in mouse anterior cingulate cortex activity for 30 min/d over 20 d, matching protocols for studying meditation in humans. Rhythmic cortical stimulation was followed by lower scores on behavioral measures of anxiety, mirroring the reductions in stress hormones and anxiety reported in human meditation studies. No effects were observed in preference for novelty. This study provides support for the use of a mouse model for studying changes in the brain following meditation and potentially other forms of human cognitive training.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Pub Defense Publication
- Publication Date
- Feb 21, 2017
- Source ID
- 10.1073/pnas.1700756114
Entities
People
- Aldis P. Weible
- Cristopher M Niell
- Denise M. Piscopo
- Mary K. Rothbart
- Michael Posner
Organizations
- Office of Naval Research
- University of Oregon