Completed

Brain Imaging Technology to Examine the Effects of Meditation

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What is being collected

Behavioral Data

+ procedure Data
Behavioral
Procedure
Who is being recruted

Healthy

From 18 to 50 Years
+5 Eligibility Criteria

See all eligibility criteria

How is the trial designed

Defined Population

Following a specific population over time in order to understand disease trends and health outcomes within that group.
Observational
Study Start: July 2001

See protocol details

Summary

Principal SponsorNational Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH)
Last updated: August 4, 2006
Sourced from a government-validated database.Claim as a partner
Study start date: July 1, 2001Actual date on which the first participant was enrolled.

The purpose of this study is to use brain imaging technology to identify the parts of the brain that are activated during meditation and to compare these parts to those activated during other activities. This study will also determine the effects of meditation on involuntary functions, such as breathing. Meditation and relaxation-based interventions are becoming more widely accepted in clinical settings because of their low cost, low risk, and proven effectiveness as a complementary intervention in a wide range of diseases. Despite the success and growing use of relaxation-based treatments, few studies have addressed the basic mechanism by which these treatments work. This study will use functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to define the brain mechanisms underlying the meditative state, to differentiate this state from other states, and to determine how meditation-induced brain changes affect autonomic function. Participants in this study will have an fMRI brain scan. Brain activity, breathing rate, and heart rate will be measured while the participant engages in three different activities: lying quietly, meditating, and mentally generating numbers.

Official TitlefMRI Investigation of Meditation 
Principal SponsorNational Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH)
Last updated: August 4, 2006
Sourced from a government-validated database.Claim as a partner

Protocol

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.
Design Details
60 patients to be enrolledTotal number of participants that the clinical trial aims to recruit.
Defined Population
Researchers follow a specific group of people—such as residents of a region or members of an organization—over time. The goal is to track disease patterns and health outcomes in a defined setting.

How information is collected
Some studies use alternative or combined approaches that don't fit strictly into prospective, retrospective, or cross-sectional models. These may include hybrid timelines, simulations, or adaptive observational methods.Other Ways to Collect Data
Prospective: These studies collect new data moving forward over time.
Retrospective: These studies use existing medical records or past data.
Cross-sectional: These studies collect data at one single point in time.

Eligibility

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria: person's general health condition or prior treatments.
Conditions
Criteria
Any sexBiological sex of participants that are eligible to enroll.
From 18 to 50 YearsRange of ages for which participants are eligible to join.
Healthy volunteers allowedIf individuals who are healthy and do not have the condition being studied can participate.
Conditions
Pathology
Healthy
Criteria
1 inclusion criteria required to participate
Daily practice of Vipassana or Kundalini meditation for at least 1 year and participation in at least one 1-week meditation retreat
4 exclusion criteria prevent from participating
Current medical or psychological illness
Use of antidepressants, antianxiolytics, or compounds that alter cerebral blood flow
Claustrophobia
Pregnancy

Study Centers

These are the hospitals, clinics, or research facilities where the trial is being conducted. You can find the location closest to you and its status.
This study has 1 location
Suspended
Massachusetts General HospitalBoston, United StatesSee the location
CompletedOne Study Center