The Neuroscience of Choosing Peace Within Meditation, Pope Leo XIII, and the Inner Architecture of Global Peace By Dr. Angelika Wagner
Angelika Wagner
Journal of Mental Health and Psychiatry October 9, 2025 DOI: 10.67238/jmhp.2025.v1.09 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Theoretical or philosophical paper Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Interventions | Meditation Prayer Breathwork Contemplative reflection |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Key points | Argues that meditation, prayer, breathwork, and contemplative reflection can promote emotional regulation, resilience, and psychological well-being by supporting neuroplasticity and reducing stress responses. |
Abstract
This article explores the relationship between meditation, prayer, neuroscience, and the pursuit of inner and global peace through the perspectives of Pope Leo XIII and contemporary neuroscience. Drawing on clinical, educational, and trauma-informed experiences, the author examines how practices such as meditation, prayer, breathwork, and contemplative reflection can promote emotional regulation, resilience, and psychological well-being. The discussion highlights the impact of chronic stress and trauma on brain function and considers how mindfulness-based practices may support neuroplasticity, reduce stress responses, and enhance cognitive and emotional health. The article further argues that personal transformation and inner peace are foundational to fostering harmony within families, communities, and societies. By integrating spiritual wisdom with scientific understanding, it presents meditation and prayer as practical tools for healing, self-awareness, and the cultivation of a more peaceful and compassionate world.
Comparable studies
Other theoretical and historical papers on meditation, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mindfulness: A proposed operational definition. | 2004 | Theoretical or philosophical paper | |
| Mechanisms of mindfulness | 2005 | Theoretical or philosophical paper | |
| How Does Mindfulness Meditation Work? Proposing Mechanisms of Action From a Conceptual and Neural Perspective | 2011 | Theoretical or philosophical paper | |
| Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy for depression | 2006 | Theoretical or philosophical paper | |
| Self-awareness, self-regulation, and self-transcendence (S-ART): a framework for understanding the neurobiological mechanisms of mindfulness | 2012 | Theoretical or philosophical paper |