Effect of "SOHAM" meditation on the human brain: an fMRI study.

The effect of "SOHAM" meditation has been investigated using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) in long-term meditators while they were meditating and not meditating. The results have revealed activation in left middle prefrontal cortex (MPFC) (Brodmann's area, BA 46), left inferior frontal gyrus (LIFG) (BA 44), left supplementary motor area (SMA) (BA 6) and left precuneus (BA 5) during the meditation period compared to the control period (no-meditation period). The results have been interpreted in terms of regulation of the emotional state, attention and working memory of the meditators.