On a more structural level, Lehmann et al. (2012) showed reduced functional connectivity between cortical sources in Qigong meditation and reduced functional interdependence between brain regions. These results were interpreted to be a correlate of the reported subjective experience of non-involvement, detachment and letting go, as well as of all-oneness and dissolution of ego borders during Qigong meditation. Cheng et al. (2010) showed an effect of Qigong meditation on prefrontal activity. Practitioners showed in comparison to non-practitioners a significant decrease in deoxyhemoglobin levels suggesting an increase in prefrontal activation during Qigong meditation. Two fMRI studies report changes in brain activity under the state of Qigong during pain exposure in Qigong masters correlating with reduced pain sensation (Chan et al., 2006; Yu et al., 2007). Functional activation in the SII-insula region and other brain areas was reported, whereas a functional suppression under the state of Qigong meditation was observed. Thus, the found functional suppression in brain regions may be responsible for the reduced pain sensation in Qigong masters under the Qigong state.