University of California researchers find brain and blood changes after meditation

A study conducted by researchers at the University of California, San Diego, has identified physiological changes in the brain and blood following a seven-day intensive meditation retreat. The study, published in the journal Communications Biology, involved 20 participants who engaged in approximately 33 hours of guided meditation and 25 hours of lectures.

Researchers utilized functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to monitor brain activity, specifically focusing on the default mode network. Beyond neurological changes, laboratory analysis revealed significant findings in blood plasma. When participants' post-retreat plasma was applied to laboratory-grown neurons, the cells developed longer neurites compared to those exposed to plasma collected before the retreat.

The research team, led by senior author Professor Hemal H. Patel and first author Alex Jinich-Diamant, designed the study to observe the holistic impact of a structured retreat environment, including changes in sleep, diet, and social interaction, rather than isolating meditation alone.