Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41008313›Full record

ArticleBrain sciences2025

Gray and White Matter Networks Predict Mindfulness and Mind Wandering Traits: A Data Fusion Machine Learning Approach.

Minah Chang, Sara Sorella, Cristiano Crescentini, Alessandro Grecucci

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Brain sciences, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

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Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

4 authors.

Minah ChangDepartment of Psychology and Cognitive Sciences, University of Trento, 38068 Rovereto, Italy.ORCID 0009-0001-5303-5421
Sara SorellaDepartment of Languages and Literatures, Communication, Education and Society, University of Udine, 33100 Udine, Italy.
Cristiano CrescentiniDepartment of Languages and Literatures, Communication, Education and Society, University of Udine, 33100 Udine, Italy.ORCID 0000-0002-3154-3687
Alessandro GrecucciDepartment of Psychology and Cognitive Sciences, University of Trento, 38068 Rovereto, Italy.ORCID 0000-0001-6043-2196

Funding

BIAL Foundation Grant for Scientific Research No.244/22
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundMindfulness and mind wandering are cognitive traits central to attentional control and psychological well-being, yet their neural underpinnings are yet to be elucidated. This study aimed to identify structural brain networks comprising gray matter (GM) and white matter (WM) that predict individual differences in mindfulness and distinct mind wandering tendencies (deliberate and spontaneous).

methodsUsing structural MRI data and self-report measures from 76 participants, we applied an unsupervised data-fusion machine learning technique (parallel independent component analysis) to identify GM and WM networks associated with mindfulness and mind wandering traits.

resultsOur analysis revealed several distinct brain networks linked to these cognitive constructs. Specifically, one GM network involving subcortical regions, including the caudate and thalamus, positively predicted mindfulness and deliberate mind wandering, while negatively influencing spontaneous mind wandering through the mediating role of the mindfulness facet "acting with awareness." In addition, two separate WM networks, predominantly involving frontoparietal and temporal regions, were directly associated with reduced spontaneous mind wandering.

conclusionsThese findings advance our current knowledge by demonstrating that specific GM and WM structures are involved in mindfulness and different forms of mind wandering. Our results also show that the "acting with awareness" facet has a mediating effect on spontaneous mind wandering, which provides supporting evidence for attentional and executive control models. These new insights into the neuroanatomical correlates of mindfulness and mind wandering have implications for ongoing research in the growing topic of mindfulness and mind wandering, mindfulness-based interventions, and other clinical applications.

Indexed as

acting with awarenessdata fusion networksmindfulnessparallel independent component analysisspontaneous/deliberate mind wanderingstructural MRI

Identifiers

PMID41008313
PMCPMC12468469

What Socratic holds

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LicenceCC BY
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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.