A respite in the chaos. Meditation as a response to the brainrot.
Joanna Betlejewska
International journal of education & well-being. March 15, 2026 DOI: 10.62416/ijwb-71 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Narrative literature review Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Intervention | Meditation |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Key findings | The authors argue that meditation, through selective attention and neuroplasticity, may counteract the anxiety, attention deficits, mood disturbances, and learning impairments they associate with excessive consumption of low-quality virtual stimuli ("brain rot"), positioning daily meditation as a free, accessible protective factor for education and well-being. |
Abstract
This article addresses the phenomenon of brain rot, a growing global concern arising from the excessive consumption of low-quality virtual stimuli. Brain rot is associated with persistent anxiety, reduced attention and concentration, mood disturbances, and loss of self-esteem. In the long term, it may contribute to mental and emotional disorders, behavioral addictions, and significant impairments in learning processes. Consequently, it adversely affects the quality of education and personal development across all age groups. The study proposes meditation as a free, accessible, and universal tool that can not only mitigate or eliminate the negative effects of brain rot but also serve a preventive function. Meditation has been shown to enhance cognitive functioning, selective attention, and overall well-being; it fosters resilience by supporting neuroplasticity, as demonstrated in numerous studies worldwide. A narrative literature review with elements of comparative analysis was employed to examine and contrast the outcomes of brain rot and meditation. The findings suggest that the benefits of daily meditation practice stand in direct contrast to the detrimental consequences of brain rot, supporting the role of meditation as a protective factor. The primary aim of this study is to demonstrate that meditation may serve as an effective means of counteracting brain rot and, consequently, contribute to both the quality of educational processes and individual well-being, particularly within the frameworks of selective attention theory and neuroplasticity.
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 |