Meditation Training Effects on the Brain

Mechanisms of white matter change induced by meditation training.

Meditation training induces changes in the brain's networks and states. This appears to occur by increasing efficiency of brain white matter, frequently after only a few hours of meditation training. This review paper discusses plausible molecular mechanisms that might result in these white matter changes. The hypothesis is that meditation results in a molecular cascade, increasing myelin and enhancing connectivity.

Front Psychol. 2014;5:1220

Does Meditation Help Reduce PTSD?

QUESTION: Does Transcendental Meditation® (TM) significantly symptoms of post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)?

METHODS:  The Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Checklist-Civilian (PCL-C) was administered to subjects three times over a 90-day period. Within 8 days of the third baseline measure, subjects were taught TM, then retested 10 days and 30 days later.

RESULTS: PCL-C scores dropped 30 points from 78 to 48 in 10 days, then dropped another 13 points to 35 at 30 days.

CONCLUSION: TM helps reduce symptoms of PTSD. 

J Trauma Stress. 2014 Feb;27(1):112-5

Does Meditation Improve Emotional Stability?

QUESTION: does meditation improve emotional stability?


METHODS: 10 experienced and 10 novice meditators were evaluated in terms of how they reacted to visual stimuli while continuing to meditate.


RESULTS: Both groups had increased parasympathetic activities during concentrative meditation. Novice meditators changed from a meditative state
to a nonrelaxed state when the visual stimuli were presented, whereas
experienced meditators maintained the meditative state.


CONCLUSION: regular concentrative meditation can improve emotional stability 


Improved Emotional Stability in Experienced Meditators with Concent... - PubMed - NCBI