Meditation and the brain - Neuronal correlates of mindfulness as assessed with near-infrared spectroscopy.
Friederike Gundel, Johanna Von Spee, Sabrina Schneider, Florian B Haeussinger, Martin Hautzinger, Michael Erb, Andreas J Fallgatter, Ann-Christine Ehlis
Psychiatry Research Neuroimaging January 30, 2018 DOI: 10.1016/j.pscychresns.2017.04.002 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Observational study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 30 |
| Population | Meditation experts (14 participants) and a control group (16 participants) |
| Topics | Default mode network Meditation |
| Keywords | Auditory cortex Kims-d Near-infrared spectroscopy nirs |
| Key findings | Meditation experts showed different lateralization patterns than controls, with greater left-hemisphere activity at rest and greater right-hemisphere activity during mindfulness. Experts had more widespread auditory cortex activation at rest, and during mindfulness controls decreased activation in higher auditory areas (BA 1, 6, 40) while experts increased it. Experts also showed heightened activity in BA 39, 40, 44, and 45 beyond the task, which the authors suggest may indicate long-term brain changes with positive effects on empathy, metacognitive skills, and health. |
Abstract
Mindfulness meditation as a therapeutic intervention has been shown to have positive effects on psychological problems such as depression, pain or anxiety disorders. In this study, we used functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) to detect differences in hemodynamic responses of meditation experts (14 participants) and a control group (16 participants) in a resting and a mindfulness condition. In both conditions, the sound of a meditation bowl was used to find group differences in the auditory system and adjacent cortical areas. Different lateralization patterns of the brain were found in expert meditators while being in a resting state (amplified left hemisphere) or being in mindfulness state (amplified right hemisphere). Compared to the control group, meditation experts had a more widespread pattern of activation in the auditory cortex, while resting. In the mindfulness condition, the control group showed a decrease of activation in higher auditory areas (BA 1, 6 and 40), whereas the meditation experts had a significant increase in those areas. In addition, meditation expert had highly activated brain areas (BA 39, 40, 44 and 45) beyond the meditative task itself, indicating possible long-term changes in the brain and their positive effects on empathy, meta cognitive skills and health.
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 11
- Job Search during COVID-19: How Online Mindfulness Intervention helped to Reduce Stress and Enhance the Self-esteem of the Job Seeker F1000Research November 4, 2022
- Effect of Mindfulness Meditation on Sensory Perception and Emotional Evaluation of Mid-Air Touch on the Forearm IEEE Transactions on Affective Computing July 1, 2025
- Meditation for Human Mind and Brain: Findings from Functional Neuroimaging Investigations Annals of Advanced Biomedical Sciences 2023
- Meditating with One’s Avatar in Virtual Reality Enhances Self-Compassion and Perspective-Taking Mindfulness August 5, 2026
- A Review on Research and Evaluation Methods for Investigating Self-Transcendence. Frontiers in Psychology 2020
and 6 more in the library
Cites 31
- Mindfulness: Theoretical Foundations and Evidence for its Salutary Effects Psychological Inquiry October 19, 2007
- Meditation Programs for Psychological Stress and Well-being JAMA Internal Medicine January 6, 2014
- Meditation experience is associated with increased cortical thickness Neuroreport November 7, 2005
- Meditation experience is associated with differences in default mode network activity and connectivity Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences November 23, 2011
- Attending to the present: mindfulness meditation reveals distinct neural modes of self-reference Social Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience August 13, 2007
and 26 more in the library