Greater neural flexibility associated with mindfulness may protect individuals from getting “stuck in a rut” of repetitive and uncontrollable worry about potential future threats, which are a hallmark of anxiety. More mindful individuals may be less prone to these anxious cognitions because of their ability to volitionally switch to other modes of awareness, such as “experiencing” sensations, emotions, and interception. 

Flexibility in transitioning between neural states bridges the well-established link between higher mindfulness and lower anxiety in children

This indicates lesser flexibility in transitioning between neural connectivity states.

University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

Children who reported relatively less present-focused and self-focused thoughts during the scan were considered less mindful. These children spent a longer dwell time in state 2, which re-emphasises the point that state 2 might support mind-wandering or another form of past or future-oriented cognition. 

Brain activity of less mindful children

Marusak HA, Elrahal F, Peters CA, Kundu P, Lombardo MV, Calhoun VD, Goldberg EK, Cohen C, Taub JW, Rabinak CA. Mindfulness and dynamic functional neural connectivity in children and adolescents. Behav Brain Res. 2018 Jan 15;336:211-218. doi: 10.1016/j.bbr.2017.09.010.

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