Increased Grey Matter Associated with Long-Term Sahaja Yoga Meditation: A Voxel-Based Morphometry Study.
Sergio Elías Hernández, José Suero, Alfonso Barros, José Luis González–Mora, Katya Rubia
PLoS One March 3, 2016 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0150757 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Case-control structural MRI study using Voxel-Based Morphometry Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 46 |
| Population | 23 experienced Sahaja Yoga Meditation practitioners and 23 non-meditators matched on age, gender, and education level |
| Intervention | Sahaja Yoga Meditation |
| Measures | Voxel-Based Morphometry |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Keywords | Cerebral cortex Prefrontal cortex Parietal lobe Temporal lobe Humans Magnetic resonance imaging Yoga Brain mapping Empathy Attention Adult Middle aged Female Gray matter Interoception Self-control |
| Key findings | Grey matter volume was larger in meditators than non-meditators across the whole brain and in several predominantly right-hemispheric regions (insula, ventromedial orbitofrontal cortex, inferior temporal and parietal cortices, left ventrolateral prefrontal cortex, left insula), with no areas larger in non-meditators. The authors suggest this reflects use-dependent enlargement in regions mediating sustained attention, self-control, compassion, and interoceptive perception. |
Abstract
Objectives: To investigate regional differences in grey matter volume associated with the practice of Sahaja Yoga Meditation.
Design: Twenty three experienced practitioners of Sahaja Yoga Meditation and twenty three non-meditators matched on age, gender and education level, were scanned using structural Magnetic Resonance Imaging and their grey matter volume were compared using Voxel-Based Morphometry.
Results: Grey matter volume was larger in meditators relative to non-meditators across the whole brain. In addition, grey matter volume was larger in several predominantly right hemispheric regions: in insula, ventromedial orbitofrontal cortex, inferior temporal and parietal cortices as well as in left ventrolateral prefrontal cortex and left insula. No areas with larger grey matter volume were found in non-meditators relative to meditators.
Conclusions: The study shows that long-term practice of Sahaja Yoga Meditation is associated with larger grey matter volume overall, and with regional enlargement in several right hemispheric cortical and subcortical brain regions that are associated with sustained attention, self-control, compassion and interoceptive perception. The increased grey matter volume in these attention and self-control mediating regions suggests use-dependent enlargement with regular practice of this meditation.
Comparable studies
Other observational and cohort studies on meditation, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Using Self-Report Assessment Methods to Explore Facets of Mindfulness Undergraduate students | 2006 | Observational cohort | |
| Effectiveness of a meditation-based stress reduction program in the treatment of anxiety disorders Patients with generalized anxiety disorder or panic disorder with or without agoraphobia | 1992 | Observational cohort | n = 22 |
| Meditation experience is associated with increased cortical thickness Participants with extensive Insight meditation experience and matched controls | 2005 | Observational cohort | n = 20 |
| Meditation experience is associated with differences in default mode network activity and connectivity Experienced meditators and matched meditation-naive controls | 2011 | Observational cohort | |
| Long-term meditators self-induce high-amplitude gamma synchrony during mental practice Long-term Buddhist practitioners and controls | 2004 | Observational cohort |
Citations in the library
Cited by 38
- What Has Neuroimaging Taught Us on the Neurobiology of Yoga? A Review Frontiers in Integrative Neuroscience July 8, 2020
- Short‐term Sahaja Yoga meditation training modulates brain structure and spontaneous activity in the executive control network Brain and Behavior November 28, 2018
- Rajyoga meditation induces grey matter volume changes in regions that process reward and happiness Scientific Reports September 30, 2020
- Greater Anteroposterior Default Mode Network Functional Connectivity in Long-Term Elderly Yoga Practitioners Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience July 2, 2019
- Efficacy of mHealth aided 12-week meditation and breath intervention on change in burnout and professional quality of life among health care providers of a tertiary care hospital in north India: a randomized waitlist-controlled trial. Frontiers in Public Health 2023
and 33 more in the library
Cites 30
- Meditation experience is associated with increased cortical thickness Neuroreport November 7, 2005
- The psychological effects of meditation: A meta-analysis. Psychological Bulletin May 14, 2012
- A systematic review of neurobiological and clinical features of mindfulness meditations Psychological Medicine November 27, 2009
- Mindfulness meditation training alters cortical representations of interoceptive attention Social Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience June 11, 2012
- Investigation of mindfulness meditation practitioners with voxel-based morphometry Social Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience December 3, 2007
and 25 more in the library