Meditation reduces activity within the default mode network and increases connectivity between it and regions of the brain that are implicated in cognitive control—that is, controlling our thoughts: the dorsal anterior cingulate and dorsolateral prefrontal cortices. The result is that meditation simultaneously turns down the default mode’s pull on our attention, while streamlining and honing the network. Increased connectivity between the prefrontal region and the default areas also has an anti-inflammatory effect by reducing cytokines.
