Mindfulness and the Brain
Routledge eBooks April 27, 2026 DOI: 10.4324/9781003741886-2 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Review Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Topics | Meditation |
| Key findings | Argues that mindfulness should be understood through an integrated model combining empirical neuroscience with contemplative and spiritual insight. The chapter contends that meditation engages working memory components, alters emotional regulation and brain structure, and influences molecular processes such as gene expression and epigenetic modulation, while emphasizing the roles of belief and intention. |
Abstract
This chapter investigates the cognitive, neurological, and physiological mechanisms underlying mindfulness meditation, bridging contemplative traditions with contemporary neuroscience. It explores how mindfulness engages attention and working memory systems, reshapes emotional regulation, and alters brain structure and function. The chapter examines verbal and visual meditation techniques through the lens of Baddeley’s working memory model, highlighting their effects on the phonological loop and visuospatial sketchpad. It also presents findings from EEG and neuroimaging studies, including novel machine learning approaches to detecting meditative states. Beyond the brain, the chapter explores the relaxation response, gene expression, and epigenetic modulation, revealing how meditation influences the body at molecular and systemic levels. Case studies, from Tibetan Tummo to Zen aging, illustrate the diverse physiological impacts of contemplative practice. Emphasising the role of belief and intention, the chapter argues for an integrated model of mindfulness that respects both empirical evidence and spiritual insight. Poetry prompts throughout invite readers to reflect on the paradox of measuring the immeasurable, reinforcing the book’s central theme: that mindfulness is both a science and an art.
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 |