By John M. de Castro, Ph.D.
In today’s Research News article “Loving-Kindness Meditation: Systematic Review of Neuroimaging Correlates in Long-Term Practitioners and Clinical Implications.” (See summary below or view the full text of the study at: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11870839/ ) Bashir and colleagues review and summarize the published research studies on changes in the brain resulting from long-term practice of Loving Kindness Meditation (LKM). They report that the brains of LKM practitioners have changes in the superior parietal lobe, inferior frontal gyrus, medial frontal lobe, and insular cortex. These areas are associated with self‐compassion, cognitive and affective empathy, and prosociality.
Long-term Loving Kindness Meditation changes brain structures responsible for the personal qualities produced by the practice.
CMCS – Center for Mindfulness and Contemplative Studies
This and other Contemplative Studies posts are also available on the Contemplative Studies Blog http://contemplative-studies.org
Study Summary
Bashir K, Edstrom SB, Barlow SJ, Gainer D, Lewis JD. Loving-Kindness Meditation: Systematic Review of Neuroimaging Correlates in Long-Term Practitioners and Clinical Implications. Brain Behav. 2025 Mar;15(3):e70372. doi: 10.1002/brb3.70372. PMID: 40022190; PMCID: PMC11870839.
ABSTRACT
Introduction
Loving‐kindness meditation (LKM), a meditation type focused on nurturing love and compassion for oneself and others, has been shown to provide mental health benefits, and LKM interventions are being investigated for mental disorders. The benefits of long‐term practice, such as increased self‐compassion, greater cognitive and affective empathy, and prosocial behavior, are proposed to be due to neuroplastic changes that support well‐being. This systematic review aims to summarize the differences in brain structure and function in long‐term practitioners (LTPs) of LKM versus controls to identify possible underlying mechanisms that support mental health and drive treatment effect.
Methods
The literature search included Google Scholar, PubMed, and APA PsycINFO from inception through November 13, 2023.
Results
After review, five studies (64 LTPs and 67 controls total) were included. Brain regions with between‐group differences reported in at least two studies include the superior parietal lobe, inferior frontal gyrus, medial frontal lobe, and insular cortex.
Conclusion
These areas are responsible for self‐compassion, cognitive and affective empathy, and prosociality—personal qualities believed to be fostered through LKM practice. Longitudinal neuroimaging and neurophysiological studies incorporating LKM interventions for specific mental disorders are needed to further inform the biological basis of these treatments and may provide surrogate outcome measures for future clinical trials to refine this promising treatment modality.