A Review of the Methodology, Taxonomy, and Definitions in Recent fMRI Research on Meditation

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.

Study at a glance

Abstract

Abstract Objectives As meditation is increasingly employed for the promotion of good health, there is a growing interest in using neuroimaging methods to investigate the neural mechanisms by which meditation acts. In the wake of this rising interest, criticism regarding the lack of clarity concerning theory, definitions, and taxonomy, as well as deficient or poorly reported methodology, has arisen. The aim of this study was to investigate trends in current neuroimaging research on meditation and to provide guidelines for future studies. Methods We made a literature search for articles published during 2016–2019 using the search phrases “meditation” and “functional magnetic resonance imaging or fMRI”. Inclusion criteria were limited to meditation studies using resting-state fMRI or such task-based fMRI examinations that were specifically targeting meditative states in healthy participants. Text analysis was performed using Nvivo 12 Mac (QSR International). Results Twenty-eight articles were included from which we identified four different intention-based dimensions of meditation practice: The present moment, Wholesome qualities to cultivate, Unwholesome qualities to avoid, and Attitudes. Half of the studies do not make assessments of subjective experience. The results were related to networks and brain regions describing cognitive, affective, somatic, and self domains of brain function. Most studies describe meditation-related brain function in terms of “processes”. Conclusions We defined five areas of potential improvement regarding research methodology: (1) Provide clear and unambiguous definitions of constructs and practices, (2) Include measures of subjective experience, (3) Perform correct assessment of processes, (4) Combine methodologies for more substantiated conclusions, (5) Avoid the risk of overinterpretation.