ArticleBrain imaging and behavior2018
Meditation and yoga practice are associated with smaller right amygdala volume: the Rotterdam study.
Article in Brain imaging and behavior, 2018. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 26 papers, 4 of them syntheses that pooled it.
What it found
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
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Who cites it
26 citing papers in PubMed, 4 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 51 citations in OpenAlex.
- How yoga shapes the brain: a systematic review.Frontiers in neuroscience · 2026Pooled it
- Contemplative-based interventions for premenstrual syndrome: a systematic review of psychobiological outcomes.Frontiers in psychology · 2026Pooled it
- Efficacy of different psychological interventions for the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease: a systematic review and network meta-analysis.Frontiers in medicine · 2025Pooled it
- The impact of mindfulness intervention on negative emotions and quality of life in malignant tumor patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis.Frontiers in psychology · 2024Pooled it
- Impact of a Mindfulness-Based Intervention on Symptoms and Emotion Regulation Strategies in Young Adolescents From the General Population: A Randomized Controlled Trial.Depression and anxiety · 2025Trial
- The moderating effect of lifetime physical activity on brain alterations related to adverse childhood experiences.European psychiatry : the journal of the Association of European Psychiatrists · 2025Article
- Burnout and the Brain-A Mechanistic Review of Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) Studies.International journal of molecular sciences · 2025Review
- Stress-related genetic factors modify the effect of socioeconomic status on cardiovascular risk.Neuropsychopharmacology : official publication of the American College of Neuropsychopharmacology · 2025Article
- "Optimizing Wellness and Neurorehabilitation with Mindfulness (OWNMindfulness)": feasibility of a novel mindfulness-based rehabilitation intervention for Persisting Symptoms after Concussion.Disability and rehabilitation · 2025Article
- Remodeling the Epigenome Through Meditation: Effects on Brain, Body, and Well-being.Sub-cellular biochemistry · 2025Review
- What can the psychoneuroimmunology of yoga teach us about depression's psychopathology?Brain, behavior, & immunity - health · 2024Article
- Decoding meditation mechanisms underlying brain preservation and psycho-affective health in older expert meditators and older meditation-naive participants.Scientific reports · 2024Article
- White matter integrity of right frontostriatal circuit predicts internet addiction severity among internet gamers.Addiction biology · 2024Article
- Management of post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms by yoga: an overview.BMC complementary medicine and therapies · 2023Review
- A cross-sectional analysis of yoga experience on variables associated with psychological well-being.Frontiers in psychology · 2022Article
- PE augmented mindfulness: A neurocognitive framework for research and future healthcare.Frontiers in human neuroscience · 2022Article
- Mining the Mind: Linear Discriminant Analysis of MEG Source Reconstruction Time Series Supports Dynamic Changes in Deep Brain Regions During Meditation Sessions.Brain topography · 2021Article
- Therapeutic role of yoga in neuropsychological disorders.World journal of psychiatry · 2021Review
- Resilience, pain, and the brain: Relationships differ by sociodemographics.Journal of neuroscience research · 2021Observational
- Long-term Ashtanga yoga practice decreases medial temporal and brainstem glucose metabolism in relation to years of experience.EJNMMI research · 2020Article
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
8 authors at 1 institution in 2 countries.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
To determine the association between meditation and yoga practice, experienced stress, and amygdala and hippocampal volume in a large population-based study. This study was embedded within the population-based Rotterdam Study and included 3742 participants for cross-sectional association. Participants filled out a questionnaire assessing meditation practice, yoga practice, and experienced stress, and underwent a magnetic resonance scan of the brain. 2397 participants underwent multiple brain scans, and were assessed for structural change over time. Amygdala and hippocampal volumes were regions of interest, as these are structures that may be affected by meditation. Multivariable linear regression analysis and mixed linear models were performed adjusted for age, sex, educational level, intracranial volume, cardiovascular risk, anxiety, depression and stress. 15.7% of individuals participated in at least one form of practice. Those who performed meditation and yoga practices reported significantly more stress (mean difference 0.2 on a 1-5 scale, p < .001) and more depressive symptoms (mean difference 1.03 on CESD, p = .015). Partaking in meditation and yoga practices was associated with a significantly lower right amygdala volume (β = - 31.8 mm
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Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.