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Study on the effect of yoga & meditation on brain structures

Rinske A. Gotink et al.

February 2018

Anti-Stress & Burnout

Yoga

This study, published in 2018, investigated the link between meditation and yoga, experienced stress and the volume of the amygdala and hippocampus area in the brain.

The study was conducted as part of the population-based Rotterdam Study and included 3742 participants for cross-sectional analyses.

Participants completed a questionnaire assessing meditation and yoga practices and experienced stress and underwent an MRI scan of the brain.

Multiple brain scans were performedon 2397 participants to assess structural changes over time. Of particular interest were the amygdala and hippocampus volumes, as these structures could be affected by meditation.

The analysis was performed using multivariable linear regression and mixed linear models adjusted for various factors.

The results show that participation in meditation and yoga practices is associated with higher levels of stress in practitioners, but also helps to cope with perceived stress and is associated with smaller amygdala volumes.

The most important information on the study at a glance

Indications: Stress
Institution: Department of Epidemiology, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, Netherlands
Title: Study on the effect of yoga & meditation on brain structures
Brief description: Study shows connection between meditation, stress management and brain structures in the amygdala and hippocampus area.
Original title: Meditation and yoga practice are associated with smaller right amygdala volume: the Rotterdam study
Link to the study: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6302143/