The underpinning of meaningful activities by brain correlates: a systematic review

Ellen Cruyt; Patricia De Vriendt; Nele De Geyter; Janne Van Leirsberghe; Patrick Santens; Stijn De Baets; Miet De Letter; Peter Vlerick; Patrick Calders; Robby De Pauw; Kristine Oostra; Dominique Van de Velde

doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1136754

The underpinning of meaningful activities by brain correlates: a systematic review

Ellen Cruyt, Patricia De Vriendt, Nele De Geyter, Janne Van Leirsberghe, Patrick Santens, Stijn De Baets, Miet De Letter, Peter Vlerick, Patrick Calders, Robby De Pauw, Kristine Oostra, Dominique Van de Velde

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

1 Citation (Scopus)

32 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Engaging in meaningful activities contributes to health and wellbeing. Research identifies meaningfulness by analysing retrospective and subjective data such as personal experiences in activities. Objectively measuring meaningful activities by registering the brain (fNIRS, EEG, PET, fMRI) remains poorly investigated.

METHODS: A systematic review using PubMed, Web of Science, CINAHL, and Cochrane Library.

FINDINGS: Thirty-one studies investigating the correlations between daily activities in adults, their degree of meaningfulness for the participant, and the brain areas involved, were identified. The activities could be classified according to the degree of meaningfulness, using the attributes of meaningfulness described in the literature. Eleven study activities contained all attributes, which means that these can be assumed to be meaningful for the participant. Brain areas involved in these activities were generally related to emotional and affective processing, motivation, and reward.

CONCLUSION: Although it is demonstrated that neural correlates of meaningful activities can be measured objectively by neurophysiological registration techniques, "meaning" as such has not yet been investigated explicitly. Further neurophysiological research for objective monitoring of meaningful activities is recommended.

Original language	English
Article number	1136754
Number of pages	11
Journal	Frontiers in Psychology
Volume	14
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1136754 https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1136754
Publication status	Published - 2023

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
This work was supported by a Ph.D. fellowship grant from the Bijzonder Onderzoeksfonds (BOF).

Publisher Copyright:
Copyright © 2023 Cruyt, De Vriendt, De Geyter, Van Leirsberghe, Santens, De Baets, De Letter, Vlerick, Calders, De Pauw, Oostra and Van de Velde.

Copyright:
Copyright 2023 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.

Keywords

activities
brain imaging techniques
brain processes
meaning
neurophysiology
occupations
systematic review

Access to Document

96525055Final published version, 511 KBLicence: CC BY

Cite this

Cruyt, E., De Vriendt, P., De Geyter, N., Van Leirsberghe, J., Santens, P., De Baets, S., De Letter, M., Vlerick, P., Calders, P., De Pauw, R., Oostra, K., & Van de Velde, D. (2023). The underpinning of meaningful activities by brain correlates: a systematic review. Frontiers in Psychology, 14, [1136754]. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1136754, https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1136754

@article{f46fc5251bd449a591e63871b6c5cc6d,

title = "The underpinning of meaningful activities by brain correlates: a systematic review",

abstract = "INTRODUCTION: Engaging in meaningful activities contributes to health and wellbeing. Research identifies meaningfulness by analysing retrospective and subjective data such as personal experiences in activities. Objectively measuring meaningful activities by registering the brain (fNIRS, EEG, PET, fMRI) remains poorly investigated.METHODS: A systematic review using PubMed, Web of Science, CINAHL, and Cochrane Library.FINDINGS: Thirty-one studies investigating the correlations between daily activities in adults, their degree of meaningfulness for the participant, and the brain areas involved, were identified. The activities could be classified according to the degree of meaningfulness, using the attributes of meaningfulness described in the literature. Eleven study activities contained all attributes, which means that these can be assumed to be meaningful for the participant. Brain areas involved in these activities were generally related to emotional and affective processing, motivation, and reward.CONCLUSION: Although it is demonstrated that neural correlates of meaningful activities can be measured objectively by neurophysiological registration techniques, {"}meaning{"} as such has not yet been investigated explicitly. Further neurophysiological research for objective monitoring of meaningful activities is recommended.",

keywords = "activities, brain imaging techniques, brain processes, meaning, neurophysiology, occupations, systematic review",

author = "Ellen Cruyt and {De Vriendt}, Patricia and {De Geyter}, Nele and {Van Leirsberghe}, Janne and Patrick Santens and {De Baets}, Stijn and {De Letter}, Miet and Peter Vlerick and Patrick Calders and {De Pauw}, Robby and Kristine Oostra and {Van de Velde}, Dominique",

note = "Funding Information: This work was supported by a Ph.D. fellowship grant from the Bijzonder Onderzoeksfonds (BOF). Publisher Copyright: Copyright {\textcopyright} 2023 Cruyt, De Vriendt, De Geyter, Van Leirsberghe, Santens, De Baets, De Letter, Vlerick, Calders, De Pauw, Oostra and Van de Velde. Copyright: Copyright 2023 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.",

year = "2023",

doi = "10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1136754",

language = "English",

volume = "14",

journal = "Frontiers in Psychology",

issn = "1664-1078",

publisher = "Frontiers Media S.A.",

}

Cruyt, E, De Vriendt, P, De Geyter, N, Van Leirsberghe, J, Santens, P, De Baets, S, De Letter, M, Vlerick, P, Calders, P, De Pauw, R, Oostra, K & Van de Velde, D 2023, 'The underpinning of meaningful activities by brain correlates: a systematic review', Frontiers in Psychology, vol. 14, 1136754. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1136754, https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1136754

The underpinning of meaningful activities by brain correlates : a systematic review. / Cruyt, Ellen; De Vriendt, Patricia; De Geyter, Nele; Van Leirsberghe, Janne; Santens, Patrick; De Baets, Stijn; De Letter, Miet; Vlerick, Peter; Calders, Patrick; De Pauw, Robby; Oostra, Kristine; Van de Velde, Dominique.

In: Frontiers in Psychology, Vol. 14, 1136754, 2023.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

TY - JOUR

T1 - The underpinning of meaningful activities by brain correlates

T2 - a systematic review

AU - Cruyt, Ellen

AU - De Vriendt, Patricia

AU - De Geyter, Nele

AU - Van Leirsberghe, Janne

AU - Santens, Patrick

AU - De Baets, Stijn

AU - De Letter, Miet

AU - Vlerick, Peter

AU - Calders, Patrick

AU - De Pauw, Robby

AU - Oostra, Kristine

AU - Van de Velde, Dominique

N1 - Funding Information: This work was supported by a Ph.D. fellowship grant from the Bijzonder Onderzoeksfonds (BOF). Publisher Copyright: Copyright © 2023 Cruyt, De Vriendt, De Geyter, Van Leirsberghe, Santens, De Baets, De Letter, Vlerick, Calders, De Pauw, Oostra and Van de Velde. Copyright: Copyright 2023 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.

PY - 2023

Y1 - 2023

N2 - INTRODUCTION: Engaging in meaningful activities contributes to health and wellbeing. Research identifies meaningfulness by analysing retrospective and subjective data such as personal experiences in activities. Objectively measuring meaningful activities by registering the brain (fNIRS, EEG, PET, fMRI) remains poorly investigated.METHODS: A systematic review using PubMed, Web of Science, CINAHL, and Cochrane Library.FINDINGS: Thirty-one studies investigating the correlations between daily activities in adults, their degree of meaningfulness for the participant, and the brain areas involved, were identified. The activities could be classified according to the degree of meaningfulness, using the attributes of meaningfulness described in the literature. Eleven study activities contained all attributes, which means that these can be assumed to be meaningful for the participant. Brain areas involved in these activities were generally related to emotional and affective processing, motivation, and reward.CONCLUSION: Although it is demonstrated that neural correlates of meaningful activities can be measured objectively by neurophysiological registration techniques, "meaning" as such has not yet been investigated explicitly. Further neurophysiological research for objective monitoring of meaningful activities is recommended.

AB - INTRODUCTION: Engaging in meaningful activities contributes to health and wellbeing. Research identifies meaningfulness by analysing retrospective and subjective data such as personal experiences in activities. Objectively measuring meaningful activities by registering the brain (fNIRS, EEG, PET, fMRI) remains poorly investigated.METHODS: A systematic review using PubMed, Web of Science, CINAHL, and Cochrane Library.FINDINGS: Thirty-one studies investigating the correlations between daily activities in adults, their degree of meaningfulness for the participant, and the brain areas involved, were identified. The activities could be classified according to the degree of meaningfulness, using the attributes of meaningfulness described in the literature. Eleven study activities contained all attributes, which means that these can be assumed to be meaningful for the participant. Brain areas involved in these activities were generally related to emotional and affective processing, motivation, and reward.CONCLUSION: Although it is demonstrated that neural correlates of meaningful activities can be measured objectively by neurophysiological registration techniques, "meaning" as such has not yet been investigated explicitly. Further neurophysiological research for objective monitoring of meaningful activities is recommended.

KW - activities

KW - brain imaging techniques

KW - brain processes

KW - meaning

KW - neurophysiology

KW - occupations

KW - systematic review

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85159899660&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1136754

DO - 10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1136754

M3 - Article

C2 - 37179882

VL - 14

JO - Frontiers in Psychology

JF - Frontiers in Psychology

SN - 1664-1078

M1 - 1136754

ER -

The underpinning of meaningful activities by brain correlates: a systematic review

Abstract

Bibliographical note

Keywords

Access to Document

Other files and links

Fingerprint

Cite this