This study investigates the neural correlates of attentional expertise in long-term meditation practitioners. Using functional MRI, researchers compared brain activation in expert meditators (EMs) with an average of 19,000 hours of practice and novices (NMs) with no prior experience. The results showed that EMs had more activation in brain regions typically involved in sustained attention, but those with the most practice showed less activation, suggesting a possible inverted U-shaped curve in neural activation related to expertise. EMs also showed less activation in regions related to discursive thoughts and emotions and more activation in regions related to response inhibition and attention compared to NMs. Correlation with hours of practice suggests possible plasticity in these mechanisms. The study also examined the effects of distracting sounds on meditation. EMs showed less activation in default-mode and emotional regions compared to NMs, indicating better attentional control. Additionally, EMs with more practice showed decreased activation in certain brain regions, consistent with increased processing efficiency. The study found that EMs had less involvement in default-mode network regions and showed more activation in regions related to attention and response inhibition. These findings suggest that long-term meditation may lead to decreased activation in certain brain regions, possibly due to increased processing efficiency. The study also found that EMs showed a more sustained response in the left dorsal lateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) compared to NMs, indicating better attentional control. The results suggest that meditation may enhance the ability to inhibit cognitive and emotional processes, which could be beneficial for managing stress and anxiety. The study highlights the potential of meditation as a form of attentional training and suggests that it may have applications in both disordered and normal populations. The findings also support the idea that meditation can lead to changes in brain function and structure, potentially improving cognitive and emotional regulation.This study investigates the neural correlates of attentional expertise in long-term meditation practitioners. Using functional MRI, researchers compared brain activation in expert meditators (EMs) with an average of 19,000 hours of practice and novices (NMs) with no prior experience. The results showed that EMs had more activation in brain regions typically involved in sustained attention, but those with the most practice showed less activation, suggesting a possible inverted U-shaped curve in neural activation related to expertise. EMs also showed less activation in regions related to discursive thoughts and emotions and more activation in regions related to response inhibition and attention compared to NMs. Correlation with hours of practice suggests possible plasticity in these mechanisms. The study also examined the effects of distracting sounds on meditation. EMs showed less activation in default-mode and emotional regions compared to NMs, indicating better attentional control. Additionally, EMs with more practice showed decreased activation in certain brain regions, consistent with increased processing efficiency. The study found that EMs had less involvement in default-mode network regions and showed more activation in regions related to attention and response inhibition. These findings suggest that long-term meditation may lead to decreased activation in certain brain regions, possibly due to increased processing efficiency. The study also found that EMs showed a more sustained response in the left dorsal lateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) compared to NMs, indicating better attentional control. The results suggest that meditation may enhance the ability to inhibit cognitive and emotional processes, which could be beneficial for managing stress and anxiety. The study highlights the potential of meditation as a form of attentional training and suggests that it may have applications in both disordered and normal populations. The findings also support the idea that meditation can lead to changes in brain function and structure, potentially improving cognitive and emotional regulation.