How regular meditation relates to thinking and emotion control
Cognitive Function and Affective Regulation in Meditators
Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center · NCT07546786
This study will see if people who regularly practice Isha-style meditation differ in cognitive skills and emotion regulation compared with people who do not meditate.
Quick facts
| Study type | Observational |
|---|---|
| Enrollment | 104 (estimated) |
| Ages | 18 Years and up |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (other) |
| Locations | 1 site (Boston, Massachusetts) |
| Trial ID | NCT07546786 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this trial studies
This prospective cohort study will compare 52 regular meditators with 52 meditation‑naïve controls at a single timepoint. Participants complete validated electronic surveys and cognitive tasks either remotely on their own device or on a BIDMC‑approved device provided by the study team. The meditator group consists of healthy adults who practice Isha Foundation techniques (for example, Shambhavi Mahamudra Kriya, Shoonya, Samyama breath‑watching), while the control group does not regularly meditate. Investigators are not teaching meditation; they are measuring cognitive and emotional outcomes associated with existing practice.
Who should consider this trial
Good fit: Adults living in the United States who can read English and either practice meditation at least four times per week or are meditation‑naïve are ideal candidates.
Not a fit: People under 18, those living outside the United States, or those unable to complete electronic questionnaires and cognitive tasks would not be eligible and therefore would not receive benefit from participation.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the findings could support recommending regular meditation as an accessible way to improve thinking skills and emotional self‑regulation.
How similar studies have performed: Previous observational research has reported some links between meditation and improved attention or mood, but results are mixed and randomized evidence is limited.
Eligibility criteria
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Participants must be able to read and understand English. * Meditators: Participants must regularly practice meditation (4 or more times per week). * Controls: Participants must not regularly practice meditation (4 or more times per week) Exclusion Criteria: * Below the age of 18. * Participants not living in the US.
Where this trial is running
Boston, Massachusetts
- BIDMC — Boston, Massachusetts, United States (RECRUITING)
Study contacts
- Study coordinator: Balachundhar Subramaniam, MD MPH
- Email: bsubrama@bidmc.harvard.edu
- Phone: (781) 472-0572
How to participate
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
- Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.
Conditions: Cognitive Function and Affective Regulation, Cognitive Function