Addiction involves compulsive substance use and impaired self-regulation, driven by neurobiological changes in the prefrontal cortex, amygdala, hippocampus, and mesolimbic reward system that disrupt reward processing, cognitive control, and stress regulation, leading to heightened cravings and relapse vulnerability. Preliminary evidence suggests meditation may influence these systems by modulating prefrontal-limbic connectivity, normalizing stress responses via the HPA axis, and enhancing neuroplasticity. However, findings are mixed and limited by methodological shortcomings, precluding definitive conclusions. Rigorous controlled studies with standardized protocols, larger samples, and longer follow-ups are needed to establish clinical efficacy.
A growing body of research examines how mental states affect biological functioning, creating demand for techniques that produce strong, persistent mental states to impact physical health. This review introduces social and personality psychologists to meditation research, providing an overview of meditation and various techniques before presenting studies linking meditation to changes in immune function, cardiovascular health, and pain perception. Meditation offers a way to gain new insights into mind-body connections.
Rhythmic sound meditation (RSM) reduces EEG power across all frequency bands—delta, theta, alpha, beta, and gamma—particularly in prefrontal and frontocentral brain regions, compared to a resting state. Subjective alertness increased after RSM, with 93.3% of participants reporting alertness, versus 73.3% after resting. The findings suggest that RSM induces distinct neurophysiological changes characterized by widespread EEG power suppression in frontal areas and heightened subjective alertness, supporting its potential for promoting altered states of consciousness.