Meditation is a conscious mental process that induces a set of
integrated physiologic changes termed the relaxation response.
Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) was used to
identify and characterize the brain regions that are active
during a simple form of meditation. Signi®cant signal
increases were observed in the group-averaged data in the
dorsolateral prefrontal and parietal cortices, hippocampus/
parahippocampus, temporal lobe, pregenual anterior cingulate
cortex, striatum, and pre- and post-central gyri during medita-
tion. Global fMRI signal decreases were also noted, although
these were probably secondary to cardiorespiratory changes
that often accompany meditation. The results indicate that the
practice of meditation activates neural structures involved in
attention and control of the autonomic nervous system.