Meditation for Improved Brain Blood Flow During Sleep

Overseen By Maria Garza, MS

Age: 18 - 65

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: Vanderbilt University Medical Center

Must not be taking: Benzodiazepines, Antipsychotics, Opioids, others

Disqualifiers: Neurological, Psychological, Implants, others

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: 3

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial aims to explore how meditation affects blood flow in the brain during different states, such as being awake or asleep. Researchers use advanced MRI scans to observe these changes in experienced meditators. They seek individuals who are adept at meditation and can remain still during scanning. This study might suit those for whom meditation is a significant part of life and who have no issues with MRIs or certain medical conditions. As an unphased study, this trial offers a unique opportunity to contribute to groundbreaking research on meditation's impact on brain function.

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

If you are taking benzodiazepines, cholinesterase inhibitors, anti-psychotics, opioids, or MAO inhibitors, you cannot participate in the trial. The protocol does not specify about other medications.

What prior data suggests that these MRI methods are safe for visualizing hemodynamic and metabolic relationships?

Research has shown that meditation is generally safe for most people. Studies suggest it can boost blood flow in the brain and improve sleep. Those who practice mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) often report better emotional control and reduced anxiety. Current research has not identified any major safety concerns with meditation practices.

Additionally, mindfulness and meditation have been used to help with conditions like high blood pressure and depression, usually without serious side effects. While individual experiences can differ, most people seem to handle meditation well. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Researchers are excited about this trial because it explores how meditation might improve brain blood flow during sleep, which is a fresh approach compared to traditional methods like medication or lifestyle changes. Unlike standard treatments that often focus on managing symptoms, meditation could enhance the brain's natural processes, potentially leading to improved sleep quality and brain health. Additionally, using advanced MRI methods, the study aims to visualize how meditation affects blood flow and metabolism in the brain, offering new insights into the mind-body connection and its impact on sleep.

What evidence suggests that meditation is effective for improving brain blood flow during sleep?

This trial will examine the effects of meditation on brain blood flow during sleep. Studies have shown that meditation can lead to positive changes in the brain, such as increasing gray matter in areas that aid learning and memory. Meditation also improves sleep quality and reduces stress. Research indicates that mindfulness meditation enhances emotional regulation and lowers anxiety. These brain changes suggest that meditation could improve blood flow in the brain during sleep. In this trial, adept meditators will undergo scanning during awake, sleep-deprived, and meditative states to explore these effects. ^{4 6 7 8 9}

Who Is on the Research Team?

Daniel Claassen

Principal Investigator

Vanderbilt University Medical Center

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for people aged 14-45 who are skilled in meditation. They must be able to undergo MRI scans, meaning no metal implants or issues with confined spaces. Participants should not have recent infections, tattoos, wounds, or consume stimulants/alcohol before the visit. Those with major neurological/psychological conditions or on certain medications like opioids and MAO inhibitors cannot join.

Inclusion Criteria

I am between 14 and 45 years old.

"Experienced meditator"

Exclusion Criteria

You have a medical device that is not safe for MRI, or you cannot have an MRI for medical reasons.

I haven't consumed stimulants or alcohol in the last 12 hours.

I am currently taking medications like sedatives, painkillers, or drugs for mental health.

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

1-2 weeks

Awake State Assessment

Participants undergo MRI scanning during awake state to assess glymphatic functioning

1 day

1 visit (in-person)

Sleep Deprived State Assessment

Participants undergo MRI scanning during sleep deprived state to assess glymphatic functioning

1 day

1 visit (in-person)

Meditative State Assessment

Participants undergo MRI scanning during meditative state to assess glymphatic functioning

1 day

1 visit (in-person)

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for changes in EEG and CSF flow after interventions

24 hours

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• Meditation
• MRI Methods for Visualizing Hemodynamic and Metabolic Relationships

Trial Overview The study is testing how different states like sleep and meditation affect brain functioning related to fluid movement and metabolism in healthy volunteers using advanced MRI techniques.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: Adept Meditators Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Subjects will undergo scanning during awake, sleep deprived, and meditative states of consciousness.

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

Vanderbilt University Medical Center

Lead Sponsor

Trials

922

Recruited

939,000+

Published Research Related to This Trial

Mindfulness meditation can quickly improve brain function and structure, particularly in older adults, and may have neurovascular benefits that are important for healthy aging.

Three proposed mechanisms for these benefits include increased resting-state cerebral blood flow, enhanced functional connectivity in the brain's default mode network, and a top-down control mechanism that combines both direct and indirect neurovascular effects.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Three potential neurovascular pathways driving the benefits of mindfulness meditation for older adults. Pommy, J., Smart, CM., Bryant, AM., et al.[2023]

Meditation is associated with measurable changes in brain activity, including increased theta and alpha waves, which relate to the practitioner's skill level, indicating its potential for enhancing cognitive functions.

Neuroimaging studies show that meditation increases blood flow in specific brain regions, particularly the anterior cingulate cortex and dorsolateral prefrontal areas, suggesting its effectiveness in improving attention and emotional regulation.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Meditation states and traits: EEG, ERP, and neuroimaging studies. Cahn, BR., Polich, J.[2023]

A shortened mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR-ld) program over 6 weeks significantly reduced perceived stress and increased mindfulness in healthy working adults, with 22 participants showing notable improvements (p = .0025 and p = .0149, respectively).

The MBSR-ld group also experienced significant improvements in sleep quality (p = .0018), while the wait-list control group showed some improvement as well (p = .0072), indicating that even a brief intervention can have positive effects on stress and well-being.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Effects of low-dose mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR-ld) on working adults. Klatt, MD., Buckworth, J., Malarkey, WB.[2023]

A 7-week focused attention meditation program with 27 healthy volunteers led to significant changes in brain energy metabolism, indicating that even short-term meditation can enhance brain function.

Participants showed reduced anxiety levels and specific metabolic changes in brain regions, such as increased energy states in the basal ganglia, suggesting that meditation may improve cognitive processes and emotional regulation.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Short-term meditation training influences brain energy metabolism: A pilot study on 31 P MR spectroscopy. Gizewski, ER., Steiger, R., Waibel, M., et al.[2021]

This study found that verbal meditation practiced by Franciscan nuns led to increased cerebral blood flow in key brain areas, including the prefrontal cortex and inferior frontal lobes, indicating active cognitive engagement during meditation.

The research highlights the feasibility of using neuroimaging to study different meditation techniques, suggesting that various cognitive processes are coordinated during meditation, although the study was limited to only three subjects.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Cerebral blood flow during meditative prayer: preliminary findings and methodological issues. Newberg, A., Pourdehnad, M., Alavi, A., et al.[2015]

An abbreviated Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) program consisting of 6 weekly 75-minute sessions can effectively be implemented during staff lunch breaks, making it a practical training option for healthcare providers and clinic staff.

This adapted MBSR program is not only feasible but also well-accepted, suggesting it could enhance the well-being of healthcare workers in a workplace setting.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction for Health Care Staff: Expanding Holistic Nursing Paradigms to the Whole System. Hazlett-Stevens, H.[2021]

During meditation, experienced Tibetan Buddhist meditators showed significantly increased regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) in key brain areas such as the cingulate gyrus and dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, indicating heightened brain activity associated with focused concentration.

The study found a negative correlation between rCBF changes in the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex and the left superior parietal lobe, suggesting that meditation may alter the sense of space, reflecting the complex cognitive processes involved in this practice.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The measurement of regional cerebral blood flow during the complex cognitive task of meditation: a preliminary SPECT study. Newberg, A., Alavi, A., Baime, M., et al.[2022]

An 8-week Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) program significantly improved sleep quality in 63 cancer patients, with overall sleep disturbance reduced (p < .001).

Participants also experienced significant reductions in stress, mood disturbance, and fatigue, suggesting that MBSR can enhance the overall quality of life for cancer patients.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Impact of mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) on sleep, mood, stress and fatigue symptoms in cancer outpatients. Carlson, LE., Garland, SN.[2018]

The study reviewed 21 fMRI and 7 MRI studies to investigate the effects of Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) on brain function and structure, finding significant changes in areas like the prefrontal cortex and hippocampus associated with stress reduction.

MBSR was linked to decreased activity in the amygdala and improved connectivity with the prefrontal cortex, suggesting that these brain changes contribute to better emotion regulation and overall mental health.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

8-week Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction induces brain changes similar to traditional long-term meditation practice - A systematic review. Gotink, RA., Meijboom, R., Vernooij, MW., et al.[2023]

Citations

1. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3004979/

Mindfulness practice leads to increases in regional brain gray ... The results suggest that participation in MBSR is associated with changes in gray matter concentration in brain regions involved in learning and memory ...

2. nature.com nature.com/articles/s41598-025-23727-z

Effects of mindfulness breathing meditation on stress and ... The results showed significant improvement in cognitive flexibility and reduction in perceived stress levels after the intervention in the ...

3. mdpi.com mdpi.com/2227-9059/12/11/2613

Neurobiological Changes Induced by Mindfulness and ... This review highlights that mindfulness, particularly through MBSR, improves emotional regulation and brain structure, reduces anxiety, and enhances stress ...

4. e-jyms.org e-jyms.org/journal/view.php?doi=10.12701/yujm.2020.00850

Effects and mechanisms of a mindfulness-based ... Mindfulness meditation and improvement in sleep quality and daytime impairment among older adults with sleep disturbances: a randomized clinical trial.

5. sciencedirect.com sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0005789411001316

Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy Improves Emotional ... This study suggests that mindfulness meditation training is associated with decreased emotional reactivity in the face of a negative affect-producing stressor.

6. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11326825/

Effects of an online mindfulness-based intervention on brain ... We investigated whether a 12-wk online mindfulness-based intervention changed the hemodynamic response of the prefrontal cortex during a verbal fluency task.

7. withpower.com withpower.com/trial/phase-parkinson-disease-6-2021-3a982

Meditation for Improved Brain Blood Flow During Sleep Research shows that meditation can increase blood flow in the brain, and Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) has been found to improve sleep quality and ...

8. nccih.nih.gov nccih.nih.gov/health/meditation-and-mindfulness-effectiveness-and-safety

Meditation and Mindfulness: Effectiveness and Safety | NCCIH This fact sheet provides information about meditation and mindfulness for conditions such as high blood pressure, anxiety, depression, ...

9. mhealth.jmir.org mhealth.jmir.org/2023/1/e44855

Effectiveness of a Mindfulness Meditation App Based on an ... This study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of a BCI-based mindfulness meditation app in improving the experience of patients with AF during RFCA.