All Studies · Mechanism (cross-domain) · Lazar (2000)

Lazar (2000)

Moderate · Mechanism/Methods Study · Mechanism (Neuroimaging/Biomarker) · n = 5
Quality Index (Adjusted QI) 0.729
0 Low < 0.56 Moderate 0.56–0.77 High ≥ 0.78 1
Study Details
ConditionFunctional MRI meditation
Clinical domainMechanism (cross-domain)
PopulationExperienced meditators
Sample sizen = 5
Country / SettingUSA - neuroimaging research lab
Protocol clusterGeneral/Varied KY
DurationAcute/Cross-sectional
Control typeOther/Mixed
ComparatorN/A - Mechanism study
Outcomes & Effect Sizes
Primary outcomeBrain function (fMRI/SPECT/PET)
Scales usedfMRI brain activation mapping
Key resultBrain activation regions identified; occipital/frontal patterns
Effect sizefMRI activation pattern: occipital/frontal regions during meditation
RetentionN/A - acute neuroimaging session
SafetySafe during fMRI
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Methodological Summary

Early fMRI study; very small sample; mechanism

KY Protocol Components

Kundalini Meditation — fMRI Neuroimaging Study DESIGN: Cross-sectional fMRI study of experienced meditators. POPULATION: 5 experienced practitioners of Kundalini meditation. MEDITATION PROTOCOL: • Passively observed breathing • Silently repeated "Sat Nam" during inhalations and "Wahe Guru" during exhalations • No observation of breathing during control state (instead silently generated random list of animals) IMAGING: fMRI during meditation vs. control (animal list generation). ACTIVATION: Significant activation in putamen, midbrain, pregenual anterior cingulate cortex, and hippocampal/parahippocampal formation. Also observed in septum, caudate, amygdala, hypothalamus. NOTE: Very early neuroimaging study (2000). Simple meditation technique — breath observation + silent mantra. NOT a clinical intervention study.

Quality Item Scores — 1 fail · 2 partial · 3 pass · ★ critical
★A1
3
A2
3
★B2
2
B3
3
B4
1
★B5
3
B6
2
★B7
2
★B8
2
B9
2
JP1
3
Critical fails0
Raw QI0.788
SAF0.925
Adjusted QI0.729
Final ratingModerate