Review of Statistical Analysis and Effects of Meditation on Mental Health and Cognitive Skill Development
A. Kamaraj
Indian Journal of Public Health Research & Development June 26, 2020 DOI: 10.37506/ijphrd.v11i6.9738 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Review Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Population | Meditation practitioners |
| Interventions | Mindfulness Full Attention Open Meditation Jhana Yoga asanas Mind Body Intervention Heartfulness |
| Measures | EEG, fMRI |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Citations | 2 |
| Key findings | The authors report that Heartfulness meditation improves the signal frequency of communication from heart to brain, strengthening brain rewiring in continuous practitioners as reflected in EEG and fMRI signals. They conclude from the reviewed literature that cognitive skills, contextual memory, attention, logical thinking, problem solving, and emotional and behavioral characteristics are greatly improved in meditation practitioners. |
Abstract
Study of brain wave signals and proper analysis of them helps us to understand the impact of meditation in much more broader extent. This review paper examined various practices like Mindfulness, Full Attention, Open Meditation, Jhana, Yoga asanas, Mind Body Intervention and Heartfulness. It also extended to the study of effects of meditation on practitioners and narrates the cases with better cognitive skill development. Every meditation process analysis included with number of persons involved in the process along with the study of affected region in the brain due to the continuous practice of meditation. It is observed that signal frequency of communication from heart to brain is improved by Heartfulness meditation. This strengthens brain rewiring of a continuous meditation practitioners and its effects are visualized from the characteristics of EEG and fMRI signals. Analyzes from different literatures, it is evident that cognitive skills, contextual memory, attention, logical thinking, and problem solving capability are highly improved in the practitioner. Also, emotional and behaviour characteristics of the meditation practitioners are greatly improved, in turn life style enhanced.
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 |
Citations in the library
Cites 18
- Prevention of relapse/recurrence in major depression by mindfulness-based cognitive therapy. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology 2000
- The wandering brain: Meta-analysis of functional neuroimaging studies of mind-wandering and related spontaneous thought processes Neuroimage February 25, 2015
- Cognitive-Affective Neural Plasticity following Active-Controlled Mindfulness Intervention Journal of Neuroscience October 31, 2012
- Mindfulness Meditation Training and Executive Control Network Resting State Functional Connectivity: A Randomized Controlled Trial Psychosomatic Medicine March 22, 2017
- Brief mindfulness meditation training reduces mind wandering: The critical role of acceptance. Emotion November 7, 2016
and 13 more in the library