Increased gray matter volume in the right angular and posterior parahippocampal gyri in loving-kindness meditators
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Previous voxel-based morphometry (VBM) studies have revealed that meditation is associated with structural brain changes in regions underlying cognitive processes that are required for attention or mindfulness during meditation. This VBM study examined brain changes related to the practice of an emotion-oriented meditation: loving-kindness meditation (LKM). A 3 T magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scanner captured images of the brain structures of 25 men, 10 of whom had practiced LKM in the Theravada tradition for at least 5 years. Compared with novices, more gray matter volume was detected in the right angular and posterior parahippocampal gyri in LKM experts. The right angular gyrus has not been previously reported to have structural differences associated with meditation, and its specific role in mind and cognitive empathy theory suggests the uniqueness of this finding for LKM practice. These regions are important for affective regulation associated with empathic response, anxiety and mood. At the same time, gray matter volume in the left temporal lobe in the LKM experts appeared to be greater, an observation that has also been reported in previous MRI meditation studies on meditation styles other than LKM. Overall, the findings of our study suggest that experience in LKM may influence brain structures associated with affective regulation.
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Practicing Metta is linked to increased resilience and enhanced emotional regulation skills.
“First evidence has revealed that practicing Metta is linked to increased resilience and enhanced emotional regulation skills [31–33].”
From Mindfulness and compassion-oriented practices at work reduce distress and enhance self-care of palliative care teams: a mixed-method evaluation of an "on the job" program. (2018) · cites this paper as [33]
The Introduction describes loving-kindness meditation (Metta) as training emotion regulation, and the Conclusions report greater gray matter volume in regions important for emotion regulation among experienced practitioners. The study does not assess resilience or demonstrate enhanced emotional-regulation skills; those claims go beyond its brain-structure findings. (LLM, conf=0.86)
Experimental — accuracy not yet measuredLong-term LKM practitioners are associated with enlarged right angular and posterior parahippocampal gyri, regions heavily involved in empathy and affective regulation.
“Leung et al. [41] observed that long-term LKM practitioners are associated with enlarged right angular and posterior parahippocampal gyri, regions heavily involved in empathy and affective regulation.”
From Potential therapeutic effects of meditation for treating affective dysregulation (2014) · cites this paper as [41]
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“Other authors (Leung et al., 2012) examined brain changes related to the practice of an emotion-oriented meditation: loving-kindness meditation (LKM) and found that meditators as compared with novices, had more gray matter volume in the right angular and posterior parahippocampal gyri.”
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Self-citation
- Authors
- Leung, M.-K., Chan, C. C. H., Yin, J., Lee, C.-F., So, K.-F., & Lee, T. M. C.
- Affiliations
- University of Hong Kong (HK)
- Hong Kong Polytechnic University (HK)
- Corresponding author
- Lee, Tatia M. C.
- Venue
- Social Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience
- Publisher
- Oxford University Press (OUP)
- Published
- 2012-07-18
- Volume
- 8
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 34-39
- ISSN
- 1749-5016 (ISSN-L)
- 1749-5024
- PMC
- PMC3541494
- OpenAlex
- W2135362000
- Cited by
- 144
- References
- 43
- Citations by year
- 2026: 3 · 2025: 8 · 2024: 5 · 2023: 6 · 2022: 10 · 2021: 14 · 2020: 10 · 2019: 14 · 2018: 8 · 2017: 9 · 2016: 10 · 2015: 17 · 2014: 20 · 2013: 9 · 2012: 1
- FWCI
- 17.04
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- hybrid
- doi.org
- Licence
- cc-by-nc
- Locations
- Social Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc)
- Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc)
- PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- The HKU Scholars Hub (University of Hong Kong) (submittedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
- PolyU Institutional Research Archive (Hong Kong Polytechnic University) (submittedVersion, cc-by-nc)
- Funders
- University of Hong Kong
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Mindfulness and Compassion Interventions
- Social Sciences › Health › Religion, Spirituality, and Psychology
- Social Sciences › Arts and Humanities › Religious studies › Indian and Buddhist Studies
- Keywords
- loving-kindness meditation, gray matter volume, angular gyrus, emotion regulation, cognitive empathy, left temporal lobe, meditation experience
- MeSH terms
- Adaptation, Psychological, Adult, Attention, Awareness, Brain, Brain Mapping, Humans, Image Processing, Computer-Assisted, Functional Laterality, Male, Middle Aged, Neuronal Plasticity, Practice, Psychological, Radiography, Matched-Pair Analysis, Meditation, Parahippocampal Gyrus, Beneficence
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