Meditation and yoga practice are associated with smaller right amygdala volume: the Rotterdam study.
Rinske A. Gotink, Meike W Vernooij, M Arfan Ikram, Wiro J Niessen, Gabriel P Krestin, Albert Hofman, Henning Tiemeier, M G Myriam Hunink
Brain Imaging and Behavior December 2018 DOI: 10.1007/s11682-018-9826-z (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Observational cohort Cross-sectional Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 3,742 |
| Population | Adults participating in the population-based Rotterdam Study |
| Interventions | Meditation Yoga |
| Measures | CESD |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Keywords | Cohort Meditation and yoga Neuroimaging Population Stress reduction |
| Key findings | Practicing meditation and yoga was associated with more reported stress and depressive symptoms, but also with smaller right amygdala and left hippocampus volumes and a decline in right amygdala volume over time. The authors propose that meditation and yoga practice may both accompany greater experienced stress and help individuals cope with it. |
Abstract
To determine the association between meditation and yoga practice, experienced stress, and amygdala and hippocampal volume in a large population-based study. This study was embedded within the population-based Rotterdam Study and included 3742 participants for cross-sectional association. Participants filled out a questionnaire assessing meditation practice, yoga practice, and experienced stress, and underwent a magnetic resonance scan of the brain. 2397 participants underwent multiple brain scans, and were assessed for structural change over time. Amygdala and hippocampal volumes were regions of interest, as these are structures that may be affected by meditation. Multivariable linear regression analysis and mixed linear models were performed adjusted for age, sex, educational level, intracranial volume, cardiovascular risk, anxiety, depression and stress. 15.7% of individuals participated in at least one form of practice. Those who performed meditation and yoga practices reported significantly more stress (mean difference 0.2 on a 1-5 scale, p < .001) and more depressive symptoms (mean difference 1.03 on CESD, p = .015). Partaking in meditation and yoga practices was associated with a significantly lower right amygdala volume (β = - 31.8 mm3, p = .005), and lower left hippocampus volume (β = - 75.3 mm3, p = .025). Repeated measurements using linear mixed models showed a significant effect over time on the right amygdala of practicing meditation and yoga (β = - 24.4 mm3, SE 11.3, p = .031). Partaking in meditation and yoga practice is associated with more experienced stress while it also helps cope with stress, and is associated with smaller right amygdala volume.
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 18
- Neural Mechanisms and Psychology of Psychedelic Ego Dissolution Pharmacological Reviews September 9, 2022
- What Has Neuroimaging Taught Us on the Neurobiology of Yoga? A Review Frontiers in Integrative Neuroscience July 8, 2020
- Gray Matter Changes in Adolescents Participating in a Meditation Training Frontiers in Human Neuroscience August 14, 2020
- Yoga and the Need of Its Integration in Modern Medicine Journal of the Association of Physicians of India December 1, 2022
- Management of post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms by yoga: an overview. BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies July 21, 2023
and 13 more in the library
Cites 24
- Meditation experience is associated with increased cortical thickness Neuroreport November 7, 2005
- Attending to the present: mindfulness meditation reveals distinct neural modes of self-reference Social Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience August 13, 2007
- Neural Correlates of Dispositional Mindfulness During Affect Labeling Psychosomatic Medicine July 1, 2007
- Standardised Mindfulness-Based Interventions in Healthcare: An Overview of Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses of RCTs PLoS One April 16, 2015
- Investigation of mindfulness meditation practitioners with voxel-based morphometry Social Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience December 3, 2007
and 19 more in the library