Rajyoga Meditation Experience Induces Enhanced Positive Thoughts and Alters Gray Matter Volume of Brain Regions: A Cross-sectional Study
Mindfulness May 8, 2021 M. G. Ramesh Babu, Rajagopal Kadavigere, K Prakashini et al. 5 citations
Practitioners of Rajyoga meditation show greater overall gray matter volume and increased volume in several brain regions, including the right superior frontal gyrus, left inferior orbitofrontal cortex, left inferior parietal gyrus, left posterior cerebellum, left middle temporal gyrus, and bilateral precuneus and cuneus, compared to non-meditators. Long-term meditators also score higher on positive thinking. More hours of meditation experience are associated with greater gray matter volume in the left superior and inferior parietal gyri but less volume in the left posterior cerebellum. In meditators, positive thought scores correlate with volume in the right superior temporal gyrus. The findings suggest that Rajyoga meditation may enhance gray matter in specific brain areas and promote positive thinking.