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The underlying anatomical correlates of long-term meditation: Larger hippocampal and frontal volumes of gray matter
Open accessAbstract
Although the systematic study of meditation is still in its infancy, research has provided evidence for meditation-induced improvements in psychological and physiological well-being. Moreover, meditation practice has been shown not only to benefit higher-order cognitive functions but also to alter brain activity. Nevertheless, little is known about possible links to brain structure. Using high-resolution MRI data of 44 subjects, we set out to examine the underlying anatomical correlates of long-term meditation with different regional specificity (i.e., global, regional, and local). For this purpose, we applied voxel-based morphometry in association with a recently validated automated parcellation approach. We detected significantly larger gray matter volumes in meditators in the right orbito-frontal cortex (as well as in the right thalamus and left inferior temporal gyrus when co-varying for age and/or lowering applied statistical thresholds). In addition, meditators showed significantly larger volumes of the right hippocampus. Both orbito-frontal and hippocampal regions have been implicated in emotional regulation and response control. Thus, larger volumes in these regions might account for meditators' singular abilities and habits to cultivate positive emotions, retain emotional stability, and engage in mindful behavior. We further suggest that these regional alterations in brain structures constitute part of the underlying neurological correlate of long-term meditation independent of a specific style and practice. Future longitudinal analyses are necessary to establish the presence and direction of a causal link between meditation practice and brain anatomy.
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“long-term meditation practice can trigger meditation-specific neuroplastic changes in the brain regions underlying cognitive control and affective regulation”
From Potential therapeutic effects of meditation for treating affective dysregulation (2014) · cites this paper as [57]
Experimental — accuracy not yet measuredThe source backs part of the claim, not all of it — or backs it for a different population, condition or comparison.
In the citing paper
“A substantial body of research has evidenced that mindfulness and compassion meditation can have a positive impact on attention and affective regulation [54, 55] and can induce long-lasting morphological changes in the corresponding neural regions—specifically, the prefrontal cortices and amygdala [56–58].”
From Potential therapeutic effects of meditation for treating affective dysregulation (2014) · cites this paper as [57]
Experimental — accuracy not yet measuredIn the citing paper
“Studies of subcortical structures have found increased activation or gray matter density in tonic alertness–related areas in meditators, such as the thalamus,83,87,88 basal ganglia,48,88,109,110 and arousal-related areas of the brainstem, such as the reticular formation.111”
From Awakening is not a metaphor: the effects of Buddhist meditation practices on basic wakefulness (2014) · cites this paper as [83]
In the citing paper
“Meditation practice has been found to promote well-being by fostering cognitive and emotional processes [5, 6].”
From The meditative mind: a comprehensive meta-analysis of MRI studies. (2015) · cites this paper as [6]
In the citing paper
“Cross-sectional design studies comparing healthy controls with expert meditators (EMs) from different meditation traditions have demonstrated structural MRI changes in: the hippocampus (Hölzel et al., 2008; Luders et al., 2009; Kang et al., 2013); right anterior insula (AI; Lazar et al., 2005; Hölzel et al., 2008); orbitofrontal cortex (OFC; Hölzel et al., 2008; Luders et al., 2009; Kang et al., 2”
From Mindfulness and Emotion Regulation: Insights from Neurobiological, Psychological, and Clinical Studies (2017) · cites this paper as Luders et al., 2009
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Mindfulness Meditation: Can Benefit Glaucoma Patients?
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“These findings seem to be in agreement with outcomes of previous studies that detected larger gray matter volumes [7,11,14] as well as increased glucose metabolism [7] in the orbitofrontal cortex in meditators compared to controls.”
BackgroundResultBorghesi, F., Cremascoli, R., Chirico, A., Bianchi, L., Moia, A. D., Priano, L., Piedimonte, A., Mauro, A., & Cipresso, P. (2024) · BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies · doi:10.1186/s12906-024-04413-5 · Cited by 9
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Cognitive Enhancement in Humans
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Mindfulness for adults with autism spectrum disorder and intellectual disability: A pilot study
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“In this way, it is shown that MBIs and mindfulness practices in fl uences attention, modulation, perception and response mechanism to interoceptive, proprioceptive and visceral stimuli (Farb et al., 2015; Haase et al., 2016; Luders et al., 2009).”
MethodMeditation—The Controlled Psychophysical Self-Regulation Process That Works
Schwartz, S. A. (2011) · EXPLORE · doi:10.1016/j.explore.2011.08.007 · Cited by 7
Brain Basis of Samadhi: The Neuroscience of Meditative Absorption
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Non-drug therapies for cognitive impairment
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“[15] Other meditation-based interventions, like Loving-Kindness and compassionate approach, have been associated with higher oxytocin levels that are involved in positive emotions and social connection.”
Lee, K. C., Gao, J., Leung, H. K., Wu, B. W. Y., Roberts, A. C., Thach, T., & Sik, H. H. (2024) · Brain Sciences · doi:10.3390/brainsci14010091 · Cited by 6
The Societal Hazards of Neuroenhancement Technologies
Wagner, N., Robinson, J., & Wiebking, C. (2018) · Advances in information security, privacy, and ethics book series · doi:10.4018/978-1-5225-5094-5.ch010 · Cited by 5
Primer for Mainstreaming Mind-Body Techniques for Extreme Climates-Insights and Future Directions
Anand, A., Kaur, G., Bammidi, S., Mathur, D., Battu, P., Sharma, K., Tyagi, R., Pannu, V. S., Bhanushali, D., & Limaye, N. (2020) · Medicines · doi:10.3390/medicines7030012 · Cited by 6
“This is indicated by an increase in gray matter and hippocampal volume [70–73], which is known for memory and learning, insular [66,70,74] and left inferior temporal gyrus [70,71,75] volume as compared to controls.”
BackgroundEcoMeditation Modifies Brain Resting State Network Activity.
Stapleton, P., Church, D., Baumann, O., & Sabot, D. (2022) · PubMed Central · Cited by 6
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“This may re fl ect an experience-dependent increase in neural volume 57,58 as an attempt to compensate for the dysregulation of the striatal network.”
Relationships and the Neurobiology of Resilience
Atkinson, B. J. (2015) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-94-017-9909-6_6 · Cited by 7
Secular, Non-dogmatic Spirituality
Walach, H. (2014) · Studies in neuroscience, consciousness and spirituality · doi:10.1007/978-3-319-09345-1_5 · Cited by 6
Yu, D. J., Yu, A. P., Li, S. X., Chan, R. N. Y., Fong, D., Chan, D. K. C., Hui, S. S., Chung, K., Woo, J., Wang, C., et al. (2022) · Journal of Exercise Science & Fitness · doi:10.1016/j.jesf.2022.10.012 · Cited by 7
Religious and spiritual experiences from a neuroscientific and complex systems perspective
Jedlička, P., & Havenith, M. N. (2025) · Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews · doi:10.1016/j.neubiorev.2025.106319 · Cited by 15
“…some extent cortical thickness and white matter connectivity (Fox et al., 2014) in the hippocampal formation (memory/emotion) (Hölzel et al., 2011; Luders et al., 2009, 2013; Sevinc et al., 2019)), insula (interoception/self-awareness) (Hölzel et al., 2008), posterior cingulate cortex…”
Chmiel, J., Malinowska, A., Rybakowski, F., & Leszek, J. (2024) · Brain Sciences · doi:10.3390/brainsci14040320 · Cited by 10
“Ad-ditionally Ad-ditionally, increased gray matter volume in the right orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) among experienced meditators may contribute to improved emotional regulation [88].”
BackgroundImportance of TRP channels in pain implications for stress
Kumar, A. (2012) · Frontiers in Bioscience-Scholar · doi:10.2741/s356 · Cited by 6
Meditation Experience Associated with Structural Neuroplasticity
Saleem, M., & Samudrala, P. (2017) · Annals of International medical and Dental Research · doi:10.21276/aimdr.2017.3.4.mc1 · Cited by 5
G, R. B. M., Kadavigere, R., Prakashini, K., Sathian, B., & Kiranmai, S. (2021) · Mindfulness · doi:10.1007/s12671-021-01630-8 · Cited by 8
Motolese, F., Stelitano, D., Lanzone, J., Albergo, G., Cruciani, A., Masciulli, C., Musumeci, G., Pilato, F., Rossi, M., Ribolsi, M., et al. (2023) · Multiple Sclerosis and Related Disorders · doi:10.1016/j.msard.2023.104931 · Cited by 6
Desai, A. K. (2011) · Medical Clinics of North America · doi:10.1016/j.mcna.2011.03.002 · Cited by 5
The Meditative Approach to Awaken Selfless Insight-Wisdom
Austin, J. H. (2013) · Studies in neuroscience, consciousness and spirituality · doi:10.1007/978-3-319-01634-4_3 · Cited by 5
New data on mindfulness-based stress reduction for hot flashes
Maki, P. M. (2011) · Menopause The Journal of The North American Menopause Society · doi:10.1097/gme.0b013e31821ace67 · Cited by 5
“Other studies have demonstrated larger hippocampal volumes amongmeditators compared with nonmeditators.(14,15) The decreases in hippocampal volume are a risk factor for dementia,(16) so the finding that MBSR increases hippocampal volume might be another benefit of the use of MBSR to treat hot flashes.”
Spirituality and Cognitive Neuroscience: A Partnership for Refining Maps of the Mind
Lancaster, B. L. (2016) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-3-319-31380-1_12 · Cited by 5
Meditation as an Intervention for Health: A Framework for Understanding Meditation Research
Allbritton, M. M., & Heeter, C. (2018) · OBM Integrative and Complementary Medicine · doi:10.21926/obm.icm.1804025 · Cited by 5
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Jiang, L., Qiao, K., Sui, D., Zhang, Z., & Dong, H.-M. (2019) · PLoS ONE · doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0213690 · Cited by 5
Functional Neuroimaging Studies of Hypnosis and Meditation: A Comparative Perspective
Dumont, L., Martin, C. Z., & Broer, I. (2012) · Cited by 5
Mild Traumatic Brain Injury and Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction: A Review
Link, J. S., Barker, T., Serpa, S., Pinjala, M., Oswald, T. H., & Lashley, L. K. (2016) · NSUWorks (Nova Southeastern University) · Cited by 5
Metadata
- Authors
- Luders, E., Toga, A. W., Lepore, N., & Gaser, C.
- Affiliations
- University of California, Los Angeles (US)
- Corresponding author
- Toga, Arthur W.
- ORCID
- Toga, Arthur W.
- Venue
- NeuroImage
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2009-04
- Volume
- 45
- Issue
- 3
- Pages
- 672-678
- ISSN
- 1053-8119 (ISSN-L)
- PMC
- PMC3184843
- OpenAlex
- W2168283580
- Cited by
- 469
- References
- 45
- Citations by year
- 2026: 14 · 2025: 21 · 2024: 18 · 2023: 19 · 2022: 20 · 2021: 17 · 2020: 21 · 2019: 33 · 2018: 29 · 2017: 28 · 2016: 41 · 2015: 41 · 2014: 43 · 2013: 39 · 2012: 37
- FWCI
- 30.01
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- green
- www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- Locations
- NeuroImage (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (acceptedVersion)
- PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
- Funders
- Bundesministerium für Bildung und Forschung (01EV0709)
- National Institutes of Health (U54 RR021813, P41 RR013642, M01 RR000865)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Mindfulness and Compassion Interventions
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Functional Brain Connectivity Studies
- Social Sciences › Health › Religion, Spirituality, and Psychology
- Keywords
- gray matter volume, hippocampus, thalamus, inferior temporal gyrus, brain structure, emotion regulation, response control, mindfulness, meditation practice
- MeSH terms
- Brain, Brain Mapping, Humans, Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Meditation
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