Cerebral blood flow changes during chanting meditation.
Dharma Singh Khalsa, Daniel Amen, Chris Hanks, Nisha Money, Andrew B. Newberg
Nuclear medicine communications December 2009 DOI: 10.1097/mnm.0b013e32832fa26c (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Randomized crossover study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 11 |
| Population | Healthy individuals |
| Intervention | Chanting meditation |
| Measures | regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Key points | Meditation practice was associated with significant increases in regional cerebral blood flow in the right temporal lobe and posterior cingulate gyrus, and decreases in the left parietotemporal and occipital gyri, compared with baseline. |
Abstract
To examine changes in brain physiology during a chanting meditation practice using cerebral blood flow single-photon emission computed tomography. Single-photon emission computed tomography scans were acquired in 11 healthy individuals during either a resting state or meditation practice randomly performed on two separate days. Statistical parametric mapping analyses were conducted to identify significant changes in regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) between the two conditions. When the meditation state was compared with the baseline condition, significant rCBF increases were observed in the right temporal lobe and posterior cingulate gyrus, and significant rCBF decreases were observed in the left parietotemporal and occipital gyri. The results offer evidence that this form of meditation practice is associated with changes in brain function in a way that is consistent with earlier studies of related types of meditation as well as with the positive clinical outcomes anecdotally reported by its users.
Comparable studies
Other randomized controlled trials on meditation, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alterations in Brain and Immune Function Produced by Mindfulness Meditation Healthy employees in a work environment | 2003 | Randomized controlled trial | n = 41 |
| Prevention of relapse/recurrence in major depression by mindfulness-based cognitive therapy. Recovered recurrently depressed patients | 2000 | Randomized controlled trial | n = 145 |
| Open hearts build lives: Positive emotions, induced through loving-kindness meditation, build consequential personal resources. Working adults | 2008 | Randomized controlled trial | n = 139 |
| Short-term meditation training improves attention and self-regulation Undergraduate Chinese students | 2007 | Randomized controlled trial | n = 40 |
| Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy for Depression: Replication and Exploration of Differential Relapse Prevention Effects. Recovered recurrently depressed patients | 2004 | Randomized controlled trial | n = 73 |
Citations in the library
Cited by 23
- Toward a unifying taxonomy and definition for meditation Frontiers in Psychology 2013
- Meditation-related activations are modulated by the practices needed to obtain it and by the expertise: an ALE meta-analysis study Frontiers in Human Neuroscience 2013
- The Neural Mechanisms of Meditative Practices: Novel Approaches for Healthy Aging Current behavioral neuroscience reports October 18, 2016
- What Has Neuroimaging Taught Us on the Neurobiology of Yoga? A Review Frontiers in Integrative Neuroscience July 8, 2020
- Spiritual Fitness: A New Dimension in Alzheimer’s Disease Prevention Journal of Alzheimer's Disease February 2, 2021
and 18 more in the library
Cites 4
- Four-Year Follow-Up of a Meditation-Based Program for the Self-Regulation of Chronic Pain Clinical Journal of Pain 1986
- Functional brain mapping of the relaxation response and meditation Neuroreport May 1, 2000
- The clinical use of mindfulness meditation for the self-regulation of chronic pain. Journal of Behavioral Medicine June 1985
- Changed pattern of regional glucose metabolism during yoga meditative relaxation. Neuropsychobiology