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Sponsored by: |
National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) |
Information provided by: | National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) |
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: | NCT00082160 |
The purpose of this study is to use brain imaging technology to identify the parts of the brain that are activated during meditation and to compare these parts to those activated during other activities. This study will also determine the effects of meditation on involuntary functions, such as breathing.
Condition | Intervention |
Healthy |
Behavioral: Meditation Procedure: Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging |
MedlinePlus related topics: | MRI Scans |
Study Type: | Observational |
Study Design: | Natural History, Cross-Sectional, Defined Population, Prospective Study |
Official Title: | fMRI Investigation of Meditation |
Estimated Enrollment: | 60 |
Study Start Date: | July 2001 |
Estimated Study Completion Date: | June 2005 |
Meditation and relaxation-based interventions are becoming more widely accepted in clinical settings because of their low cost, low risk, and proven effectiveness as a complementary intervention in a wide range of diseases. Despite the success and growing use of relaxation-based treatments, few studies have addressed the basic mechanism by which these treatments work. This study will use functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to define the brain mechanisms underlying the meditative state, to differentiate this state from other states, and to determine how meditation-induced brain changes affect autonomic function.
Participants in this study will have an fMRI brain scan. Brain activity, breathing rate, and heart rate will be measured while the participant engages in three different activities: lying quietly, meditating, and mentally generating numbers.
Ages Eligible for Study: | 18 Years to 50 Years |
Genders Eligible for Study: | Both |
Accepts Healthy Volunteers: | Yes |
Inclusion Criteria:
Exclusion Criteria:
United States, Massachusetts | |||||
Massachusetts General Hospital | |||||
Boston, Massachusetts, United States, 02129 |
Principal Investigator: | Sara Lazar, PhD | Massachusetts General Hospital Department of Psychiatry |
Scientific American Frontiers program for which investigator was interviewed. 
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Study ID Numbers: | K01 AT000694-01 |
First Received: | April 30, 2004 |
Last Updated: | August 3, 2006 |
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: | NCT00082160 |
Health Authority: | United States: Federal Government |
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