The neuroscience of meditation: classification, phenomenology, correlates, and mechanisms.
Tracy Brandmeyer, Arnaud Delorme, Helané Wahbeh
Progress in brain research January 1, 2019 Peer reviewed DOI: 10.1016/bs.pbr.2018.10.020 via PubMed
Summary
Meditation research has expanded significantly over the last 30 years, revealing common neural patterns during meditation while also highlighting differences across various traditions. Although studies show positive effects of meditation on stress reduction, anxiety, depression, and pain improvement in clinical populations, challenges remain due to varied classification systems and heterogeneous practitioner styles. Future research should address these methodological issues to enhance understanding of meditation's mechanisms and benefits.
Study at a glance
| Population | clinical populations experiencing stress, anxiety, depression, and pain |
|---|---|
| Key finding | There is growing evidence that meditation can positively impact stress reduction, anxiety, depression, and pain improvement in some clinical populations. |
Abstract
Rising from its contemplative and spiritual traditions, the science of meditation has seen huge growth over the last 30 years. This chapter reviews the classifications, phenomenology, neural correlates, and mechanisms of meditation. Meditation classification types are still varied and largely subjective. Broader models to describe meditation practice along multidimensional parameters may improve classification in the future. Phenomenological studies are few but growing, highlighting the subjective experience and correlations to neurophysiology. Oscillatory EEG studies are not conclusive likely due to the heterogeneous nature of the meditation styles and practitioners being assessed. Neuroimaging studies find common patterns during meditation and in long-term meditators reflecting the basic similarities of meditation in general; however, mostly the patterns differ across unique meditation traditions. Research on the mechanisms of meditation, specifically attention and emotion regulation is also discussed. There is a growing body of evidence demonstrating positive benefits from meditation in some clinical populations especially for stress reduction, anxiety, depression, and pain improvement, although future research would benefit by addressing the remaining methodological and conceptual issues. Meditation research continues to grow allowing us to understand greater nuances of how meditation works and its effects.