Can yoga reshape the brain? Review of the Book The Neuroscience of Yoga and Meditation by Brittany Fair, 2023. Handspring Publishing.
Julia Samsel
Elementary Education in Theory and Practice June 23, 2026 DOI: 10.35765/forpsych.2026.0101.09 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Review Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Topics | Meditation |
| Keywords | Contemplation Transpersonal psychology Field mathematics Psychotherapist Psychoanalysis |
| Key findings | The intersection of contemplative practices and neuroscience has become a dynamic area of interdisciplinary research, forming the field of contemplative science. |
Abstract
The intersection between contemplative practices and neuroscience has become one of the most dynamic areas of interdisciplinary inquiry over the past two decades. Yoga and meditation, once framed primarily within spiritual or religious traditions, are now increasingly examined through the lens of brain imaging, psychoneuroendocrinology, and clinical psychology. This shift has produced a burgeoning field often referred to as contemplative science (Davidson & Kaszniak, 2015; Tang et al., 2015).
Comparable studies
Other narrative reviews on meditation, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mindfulness training as a clinical intervention: A conceptual and empirical review. Clinical populations | 2003 | Review | |
| Mindfulness: Theoretical Foundations and Evidence for its Salutary Effects | 2007 | Review | |
| Mindfulness Interventions | 2016 | Review | |
| Mind the Hype: A Critical Evaluation and Prescriptive Agenda for Research on Mindfulness and Meditation | 2017 | Review | |
| Mindfulness and acceptance: expanding the cognitive-behavioral tradition | 2005 | Review |