Neuroscience study in mindfulness meditation
Journal of Mental Health of Thailand - วารสารสุขภาพจิต แห่งประเทศไทย 2012 DOI: 10.14456/dmhjournal.2012.15 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Review Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Measures | Electroencephalography (EEG), functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Key findings | The review reports that open meditation increased theta activity at bilateral frontal areas and gamma power at parieto-occipital areas relative to rest, and that functional imaging showed different activation sites for open versus focus meditation and for novices versus experts. Continuous meditation practice was associated with increased gray matter, especially in the left prefrontal area. The authors conclude that further research with a consensus methodology is needed. |
Abstract
Objective To review neuroscience study in mindfulness meditation.Material and Methods Articles retrieved by using mindfulness as a key word from online data sources between 1990 to November 2011. Review and case control study articles in English and Thaiwere reviewed.Results Electroencephalographic (EEG) study showed different pattern between 2 techniques of meditation i.e. open meditation (OM) and focus meditation (FM). Other factors such as duration of practice, state of meditation were infl uenced EEG pattern. EEG in OM increased theta activities at bilateral frontal areas than at rest. Gamma power increased at parieto-occipital areas. Functional magneticresonance imaging study (fMRI) showed different sites of activation/deactivation between OM and FM. Novice and expert showed different site of activation during meditation and relaxation. Data also showed increase gray matter especially at left prefrontal area in continuous meditation cases. However, further research which a consensus methodology is needed.Conclusion EEG in OM increased theta activities at bilateral frontal areas than at rest. Gamma power increased at parieto-occipital areas. fMRI showed increase gray matter from continuous practice.
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 21
- Mechanisms of mindfulness Journal of Clinical Psychology December 29, 2005
- Alterations in Brain and Immune Function Produced by Mindfulness Meditation Psychosomatic Medicine July 1, 2003
- Prevention of relapse/recurrence in major depression by mindfulness-based cognitive therapy. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology 2000
- Effectiveness of a meditation-based stress reduction program in the treatment of anxiety disorders American Journal of Psychiatry July 1, 1992
- Neural correlates of attentional expertise in long-term meditation practitioners Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences June 28, 2007
and 16 more in the library