How meditation training affects the brain in healthy and depressed teens
Neural mechanisms of meditation training in healthy and depressed adolescents: An MRI connectome study
This study is looking at how meditation can help improve emotional well-being in teens aged 12 to 20 who are feeling depressed, by checking how their brains change while they learn to meditate.
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-10920376 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This research investigates how meditation training can improve emotional health in adolescents aged 12 to 20, particularly those experiencing depression. Using advanced MRI techniques, the study aims to map changes in brain connectivity, specifically in the putamen, a region linked to emotional responses and meditation. By understanding these neural changes, the research seeks to develop more effective interventions for adolescent depression. Participants will undergo meditation training while their brain activity is monitored through MRI scans to observe any structural changes.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates for this research are adolescents aged 12 to 20 who are experiencing symptoms of depression or are interested in meditation.
Not a fit: Patients outside the age range of 12 to 20 or those not experiencing depressive symptoms may not benefit from this research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to new, effective methods for improving emotional health and treating depression in adolescents.
How similar studies have performed: Previous research has shown promising results in using meditation to improve 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.