Functional brain mapping of the relaxation response and meditation
Neuroreport May 1, 2000 Sara W. Lazar, George Bush, Randy L. Gollub et al. 443 citations
Meditation, a conscious mental process that induces a set of integrated physiologic changes known as the relaxation response, activates specific brain regions. Using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), signal increases were observed in the dorsolateral prefrontal and parietal cortices, hippocampus/parahippocampus, temporal lobe, pregenual anterior cingulate cortex, striatum, and pre- and post-central gyri during meditation. Global fMRI signal decreases were also noted, likely secondary to accompanying cardiorespiratory changes. The findings suggest that meditation practice activates neural structures involved in attention and control of the autonomic nervous system.