Activation of the anterior prefrontal cortex and serotonergic system is associated with improvements in mood and EEG changes induced by Zen meditation practice in novices.
International journal of psychophysiology : official journal of the International Organization of Psychophysiology May 1, 2011 Xinjun Yu, Masaki Fumoto, Yasushi Nakatani et al.
Focused attention on lower-abdomen breathing (Tanden) for 20 minutes increased oxygenated hemoglobin in the anterior prefrontal cortex, a region linked to attention, in 15 healthy novices. This was accompanied by reduced negative mood, increased alpha brainwave activity, decreased theta activity, and a rise in whole blood serotonin levels. The findings suggest that activation of the prefrontal cortex and serotonin system may underlie the mood improvements and EEG changes observed during this form of Zen meditation.