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The aim of this chapter is to provide an accessible introduction to the neuroscience of meditation. First, we review studies examining the relationship between meditation and alterations in the structure of the brain’s grey and white matter (so-called morphometric neuroimaging). Next, we discuss findings from functional neuroimaging methods, such as functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and positron emission tomography (PET) scans, and what they have taught us about the brain’s patterns of activity during different forms of meditation, how meditation alters the brain’s response to various tasks and experiences, and how the expertise of long-term meditators might be harnessed to help us explore subtle aspects of human cognition. Third, we review electrophysiological methods of measuring brain activity during meditation, such as electroencephalography (EEG), and how these findings relate to what we have learned from morphometric and functional neuroimaging. Finally, we discuss the implications of this research and of meditation more generally for brain health and psychological well-being. Specifically, we focus on how meditation might ameliorate the deficits related to cognitive aging, as well as help ameliorate the symptoms and underlying neural substrates associated with neurodegenerative and psychiatric disease.
MindRxiv|Life Sciences|Neuroscience and Neurobiology|Cognitive Neuroscience, bepress|Life Sciences|Neuroscience and Neurobiology, bepress|Life Sciences, MindRxiv|Life Sciences, Neuroscience and Neurobiology, Cognitive Neuroscience, Life Sciences, bepress|Life Sciences|Neuroscience and Neurobiology|Cognitive Neuroscience, MindRxiv|Life Sciences|Neuroscience and Neurobiology
MindRxiv|Life Sciences|Neuroscience and Neurobiology|Cognitive Neuroscience, bepress|Life Sciences|Neuroscience and Neurobiology, bepress|Life Sciences, MindRxiv|Life Sciences, Neuroscience and Neurobiology, Cognitive Neuroscience, Life Sciences, bepress|Life Sciences|Neuroscience and Neurobiology|Cognitive Neuroscience, MindRxiv|Life Sciences|Neuroscience and Neurobiology
citations This is an alternative to the "Influence" indicator, which also reflects the overall/total impact of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network (diachronically). | 19 | |
popularity This indicator reflects the "current" impact/attention (the "hype") of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network. | Top 10% | |
influence This indicator reflects the overall/total impact of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network (diachronically). | Average | |
impulse This indicator reflects the initial momentum of an article directly after its publication, based on the underlying citation network. | Top 10% |