Understanding Cognitive Neuroscience of Meditation for the Well-being of Humankind: A Comprehensive Review
Journal of medicine and health research February 27, 2026 Amandeep Kaur, P. Gill, Deepinder Kaur
Meditation encompasses various self-regulation exercises—focused attention, open monitoring, Transcendental Mantra, loving kindness, and yoga-based practices—that train attention and awareness. These practices produce measurable neurobiological adaptations, including increased cortical thickness in the left hippocampus and posterior cingulate cortex, and enhanced functional connectivity between the prefrontal cortex and default mode network, reflecting improved emotional regulation and neuroplasticity. Neurotransmitter profiling shows elevated GABA and serotonin levels, increased brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), and reduced cortisol, supporting mood stability and cognitive resilience. Practicing meditation leads to balanced blood pressure, better cardiovascular health, improved blood flow and immunity, and balanced sympathetic-parasympathetic activity. Immunomodulation reduces pro-inflammatory biomarkers and affects immune cell activity. Innovative transcriptomic data suggest meditation may alter gene expression of inflammatory, oxidative stress, and neurotrophic pathways, providing a molecular basis for its health-reinforcing effects.