Meditation

Waqar Husain et al. (2026) · Brain and behavior

This systematic review of 105 studies examined how religious and spiritual practices -- meditation, prayer, chanting, ritual, and mystical experience -- show up in brain scans. It pooled evidence across eight traditions (Buddhism, Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Santo Daime, Spiritism, Sant Mat, and mixed traditions) and seven brain-imaging methods, filling a gap left by earlier reviews that each covered only one practice or one faith. Neurotheology, the scientific study of how spiritual experience relates to brain function, asks whether these ancient practices leave a measurable, functional signature on the nervous system. Researchers searched three major databases from their earliest records through mid-2026 and found 450 candidate studies; after removing duplicates and screening for eligibility, 105 studies remained. Each had to study real human participants using an objective brain-measurement tool -- functional or structural MRI, EEG, MEG, PET, SPECT, or similar -- during an actual religious, spiritual, or contemplative practice, not passive exposure to religious words or images. Because the studies varied enormously in tradition, practice, and method, the team combined findings narratively rather than statistically averaging them. Meditation studies (the largest group, 35 studies) consistently found quieter activity in the brain's default mode network, the circuit active during mind-wandering and self-focused thought, alongside more efficient attention-related brain activity in long-term practitioners. Prayer (21 studies) activated brain regions used for understanding other people's minds when prayer was personal and improvised, suggesting the brain treats sincere prayer like a real conversation, and activated reward circuitry during peak spiritual feelings among some worshippers. Chanting and recitation (25 studies) calmed emotional brain circuits -- OM chanting, for example, reduced activity along the same pathway targeted by an approved medical nerve-stimulation therapy. Mental-health-relevant findings (14 studies) included a randomized trial in which loving-kindness meditation eased depression symptoms in diagnosed patients, and a mindfulness program that lowered stress-hormone levels months later. Eleven studies of unusual states -- near-death imagery, ayahuasca ceremonies, and trance -- showed the most widespread brain-network changes of any practice type. The review's authors state plainly that religious and spiritual practices are neurologically real, measurable behaviors, not just subjective reports, and that the brain circuits they engage overlap with those disrupted in depression, anxiety, and addiction. They stop short of claiming these practices treat any diagnosed condition, since most studies involved healthy volunteers rather than patients. The search covered only English-language, peer-reviewed studies, and the wide variety of traditions and methods meant the team could describe patterns but not calculate a single combined effect size.

Aibo Li et al. (2025) · Frontiers in public health

This study tested whether spending three days in a forest could help lower blood pressure in older adults who already have essential hypertension (high blood pressure with no single identifiable cause). Thirty-six adults aged 60 to 80 with diagnosed hypertension took part: 24 went to a subtropical forest national park in China for a 3-day retreat, while 12 stayed in the city of Hangzhou following the same daily schedule, so researchers could compare the two settings directly. The forest group took part in daily gentle activities designed to immerse them in nature: eight trigrams boxing (a slow, breath-focused Qigong practice), a few hours of guided forest walking, a traditional tea ceremony, and a meditation session. Both groups ate the same meals and kept the same schedule. Before and after the trip, researchers measured blood pressure, heart rate, blood oxygen, heart-rate variability (a marker of nervous-system balance), several inflammation and stress-hormone markers in the blood, and mood using a standard questionnaire. After the trip, the forest group's blood pressure was significantly lower than the city group's, both the top number (systolic, ~134 vs. 147) and bottom number (diastolic, ~78 vs. 85). Inflammation, measured by a sensitive CRP blood test, was also significantly lower in the forest group. Heart-rate variability shifted in a pattern the researchers interpreted as a healthy autonomic-nervous-system adjustment for this population. On mood, the forest group reported significantly less tension and anxiety and significantly more energy and vitality than the city group; other mood measures trended better but weren't statistically significant. Heart rate, blood oxygen, and most other blood markers (IL-6, cortisol, oxidative-stress markers) didn't differ significantly between the groups. These results suggest a short forest retreat combining gentle nature-based activities may meaningfully help lower blood pressure, ease inflammation, and improve mood in older adults with hypertension, as a complement to standard care. Because the forest program bundled several practices together (forest walking, qigong, meditation, tea ceremony) and compared a larger forest group to a much smaller city group in a different location, it's hard to know how much came from the forest setting itself versus the other activities. The trial only lasted three days, so it can't say whether the benefits last, and larger, longer studies are needed before forest bathing becomes a standard recommendation for hypertension.

Shamini Jain et al. (2015) · Global advances in health and medicine

This study explores the concepts of consciousness and subtle energy within Indo-Tibetan philosophical and medical systems, aiming to enhance cross-cultural dialogue on the biofield. By examining the similarities and differences among Vedic, Jain, and Tibetan traditions, the research seeks to inform contemporary biofield science and improve understanding of health and healing practices. The integration of traditional knowledge with modern scientific methods is emphasized as a means to bridge the gap between ancient wisdom and contemporary health sciences. The study employs a descriptive analysis to investigate the relationship between ancient Indo-Tibetan systems and modern biofield science. It does not involve a specific intervention or treatment but rather focuses on the philosophical concepts related to consciousness and subtle energy. The research highlights the importance of introspective inquiry in these ancient systems, paralleling modern scientific findings in health and wellness. The objective is to foster deeper cross-cultural dialogue and enhance understanding of biofields through the exploration of these traditional concepts. The findings indicate that there are significant similarities and differences in the understanding of biofields across the three traditions studied. The authors suggest that integrating traditional diagnostic methods with contemporary biomarkers could inform treatment options and improve health outcomes. However, limitations include the need for more empirical studies to validate the proposed connections and the challenges of integrating diverse methodologies. The study aligns with previous research that has explored genetic and metabolic differences associated with traditional medicine systems, suggesting a valuable intersection between traditional and modern approaches. The implications of this research are significant for practitioners and researchers in health and healing. By incorporating holistic approaches and traditional diagnostic methods alongside modern biomarkers, practitioners may enhance health assessments and treatment options. Key limitations include the necessity for empirical validation of the proposed links and the challenges in integrating methodologies from Eastern and Western perspectives. Future research should focus on empirical investigations of biofield practices and their effects on health outcomes, particularly regarding the mechanisms of subtle energy interactions.