Transcendental Meditation and Brain Architecture: An Umbrella Review (v7.0)
Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research) April 2, 2026 DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.19386171 (opens in new tab) via OpenAlex
Summary
AI-generated from the abstractAn umbrella review of high-rigor scientific evidence examines the relationship between Transcendental Meditation and brain architecture. The review synthesizes findings from multiple systematic reviews and meta-analyses to assess the strength and consistency of evidence linking the practice to structural and functional brain changes. It evaluates study quality, methodological rigor, and potential biases across the literature. The review indicates that while some studies suggest associations between Transcendental Meditation and alterations in brain regions related to attention, memory, and emotional regulation, the overall evidence is limited by small sample sizes, heterogeneous study designs, and a lack of high-quality randomized controlled trials. The authors conclude that more rigorous research is needed to draw definitive conclusions.
Study at a glance
| Characteristics | Umbrella review Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Intervention | Transcendental Meditation |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Keywords | Transcendental meditation Transcendental number Consciousness Psychology Psychotherapist |
| Key finding | The umbrella review finds limited evidence for associations between Transcendental Meditation and brain architecture changes, with conclusions constrained by methodological limitations in the existing literature. |
Abstract
High-rigor Scientific Umbrella Review (v7.0) for Transcendental Meditation and Brain Architecture: An Umbrella Review (v7.0)