NEUROSOCIOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVE ON NEW AGE PRACTICES: MEDITATION AND MINDFULLNESS

New Age practices, particularly meditation and mindfulness, produce measurable neuronal changes in specific brain regions that reduce stress and anxiety. A neurosociological evaluation combining literature review and in-depth interviews with ten regular practitioners found that these eclectic and syncretic techniques—blending spiritual, mystical, esoteric, and scientific elements—impact both individual neural functioning and broader social behaviors. The findings align with existing neuroscience research demonstrating how such practices bridge sociology and neuroscience.

Study at a glance

Abstract

This study aims to examine New Age practices from a neurosociological perspective, a point where sociology and neuroscience intersect. New Age is characterized as an eclectic and syncretic umbrella term encompassing spiritual, mystical, esoteric, and occult elements, as well as scientific knowledge, ancient traditions, and religious discourses. These techniques merge old and new teachings, resulting in a dynamic and open-ended framework. On the other hand, in recent decades, neuroscience has made significant progress in uncovering the mysteries of the human brain, supported by technological advancements. Numerous studies in the field of neuroscience have demonstrated that various practices and teachings classified under the New Age umbrella led to measurable neuronal changes in specific brain regions, reducing stress and anxiety. Due to the large spectrum of the New Age term, this study focuses only in meditation and mindfulness practices which can be seen as the pillars of many different teachings and techniques. In this study, a combination of literature review and in-depth interviews was used. Face-to-face interviews were conducted with ten individuals regularly engaging in these practices. The findings from these interviews align with the existing literature. This neurosociological evaluation highlights the interdisciplinary nature of New Age practices, bridging the fields of sociology and neuroscience by providing insights into how such beliefs and practices impact both individual neural functioning and broader social behaviors.