A Review of the Methodology, Taxonomy, and Definitions in Recent fMRI Research on Meditation
Mindfulness November 12, 2021 Maria Engström, Johan Willander, Rozalyn Simon 21 citations
A review of 28 neuroimaging studies on meditation published between 2016 and 2019 identifies four intention-based dimensions of meditation practice: focusing on the present moment, cultivating wholesome qualities, avoiding unwholesome qualities, and adopting certain attitudes. Half of the studies did not assess participants' subjective experience. The findings relate meditation-related brain function to cognitive, affective, somatic, and self domains, with most studies describing results in terms of brain processes. The authors recommend five improvements for future research: providing clear definitions, including measures of subjective experience, correctly assessing processes, combining methodologies, and avoiding overinterpretation.