How meditation training affects brain connections in adolescents
Diversity Supplement: Neural mechanisms of meditation training in healthy and depressed adolescents: An MRI connectome study
This study is looking at how learning to meditate can help improve emotional health in teens aged 12 to 20 by using brain scans to see how their brains change, especially in areas related to feelings and happiness.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California, San Francisco NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (San Francisco, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11046380 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This research investigates how meditation training can improve emotional health in adolescents by examining changes in brain connectivity using MRI technology. The study focuses on adolescents aged 12 to 20, exploring how meditation impacts the putamen, a brain region linked to emotions and pleasure. By mapping the neural changes that occur during meditation training, the research aims to identify effective methods for enhancing emotional well-being in young people. Participants will undergo MRI scans to assess the structural connectivity of their brains before and after meditation training.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates for this research are adolescents aged 12 to 20 who may be experiencing symptoms of depression or seeking to improve their emotional health.
Not a fit: Patients outside the age range of 12 to 20 or those not experiencing emotional health issues may not benefit from this research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved mental health interventions for adolescents suffering from depression.
How similar studies have performed: Previous research has shown promising results in using meditation to enhance emotional health, making this approach both innovative and grounded in existing literature.
Where this research is happening
San Francisco, United States
- University of California, San Francisco — San Francisco, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Yang, Tony Tung-I — University of California, San Francisco
- Study coordinator: Yang, Tony Tung-I
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.