Meditation Can Help Calm Anxiety, New Study Confirms

A groundbreaking study from the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai has revealed that meditation induces significant changes in deep brain regions associated with memory and emotional regulation. Using intracranial electroencephalogram (EEG) recordings, researchers observed shifts in brain wave activity within the amygdala and hippocampus, areas critical for processing emotions and memory formation.

Published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, the study involved eight patients with drug-resistant epilepsy who had surgically implanted neurostimulation devices, allowing for precise brain activity monitoring. Participants, who were novice meditators, engaged in a guided five-minute introduction followed by a ten-minute session of loving-kindness meditation (LKM), a practice centered on generating feelings of compassion for oneself and others.

The results showed that meditation influenced beta and gamma brain waves, which are typically altered in mood disorders such as anxiety and depression. Researchers noted that the ability to modulate these waves through meditation could help explain its mental health benefits. Participants also reported a strong sense of deep relaxation, averaging a score of 7.43 out of 10.

For individuals with anxiety disorder, these findings confirm that meditation can be a valuable tool to help resolve issues with anxiety and hyperstimulation. Anxiety is often associated with dysregulated activity in the amygdala and hippocampus, leading to heightened stress responses and impaired emotional regulation. This study suggests that meditation can help individuals with anxiety regain control over these neural processes, potentially reducing symptoms and improving overall well-being.

Unlike traditional EEG studies, which struggle to assess deep brain regions, this study leveraged advanced invasive neural recordings, providing an unprecedented level of detail. Conducted in a controlled yet relaxing lab environment, the research offered ecological validity by mimicking real-world meditation settings.

Despite its promising findings, the study had limitations, including a small sample size and the focus on a single meditation session. Future research will explore long-term effects and the potential for meditation-based interventions to support mental well-being.

While meditation is not a substitute for conventional therapies, it offers an accessible, low-cost tool that may complement existing treatments for individuals struggling with memory, emotional regulation, and anxiety disorder.

Moving forward, the Mount Sinai team aims to expand their research to assess how ongoing meditation practice influences mental health outcomes, further unlocking its therapeutic potential.

References

Maher, Christina, et al. “Intracranial substrates of meditation-induced neuromodulation in the amygdala and hippocampus.” PNAS, 17 May 2024.