This study investigates the neural correlates of attentional expertise in long-term meditation practitioners. Using functional MRI, the researchers compared brain activation patterns in expert meditators (EMs) with 10,000 to 54,000 hours of practice and novice meditators (NMs) and non-meditators (INMs). The EMs showed greater activation in attention-related brain regions during concentration meditation compared to NMs, but this activation decreased with increasing practice hours. EMs also showed less activation in regions associated with task-irrelevant thoughts and emotions, and more activation in regions related to response inhibition and attention. The results suggest that long-term meditation may lead to decreased activation in certain brain regions, possibly due to increased processing efficiency, and that expertise may result in a less cognitively active mental state. The study also found that EMs were less distracted by external sounds during meditation, indicating better attentional control. These findings have implications for understanding the neural basis of attentional expertise and the potential benefits of meditation on cognitive processes.This study investigates the neural correlates of attentional expertise in long-term meditation practitioners. Using functional MRI, the researchers compared brain activation patterns in expert meditators (EMs) with 10,000 to 54,000 hours of practice and novice meditators (NMs) and non-meditators (INMs). The EMs showed greater activation in attention-related brain regions during concentration meditation compared to NMs, but this activation decreased with increasing practice hours. EMs also showed less activation in regions associated with task-irrelevant thoughts and emotions, and more activation in regions related to response inhibition and attention. The results suggest that long-term meditation may lead to decreased activation in certain brain regions, possibly due to increased processing efficiency, and that expertise may result in a less cognitively active mental state. The study also found that EMs were less distracted by external sounds during meditation, indicating better attentional control. These findings have implications for understanding the neural basis of attentional expertise and the potential benefits of meditation on cognitive processes.