Recent research suggests that activities like meditation, exposure to nature, and engagement with art can significantly benefit people’s mental health and well-being. Studies have shown that these experiences can reduce stress, promote relaxation, and even enhance emotional processing. However, most past research has primarily examined these activities in isolation, without comparing how each influences brain function. This gap in understanding prompted a team of researchers from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) to investigate whether different types of transcendent experiences—such as transcendental meditation, nature viewing, and exposure to digital art—produce unique patterns of brain activation.
The Study: Exploring Transcendence through Different Experiences
In their study, published in Frontiers in Human Neuroscience, the UCLA researchers sought to explore how meditation and exposure to art or nature might differ in their effects on brain activity. Specifically, they aimed to examine the brain activation patterns associated with visualization-based transcendental meditation (which focuses on connecting to the cosmic soul) and compare them to those generated by watching evocative digital art or nature videos.
The researchers recruited nine healthy adults with relatively low levels of stress and anxiety to participate in the experiment. The participants were exposed to videos in an fMRI scanner, which allowed the researchers to record real-time brain activity while the participants engaged in various activities. The three conditions tested in the study were:
- Transcendental meditation, where participants practiced a meditation focused on the cosmic soul while watching star nebula videos.
- Nature videos, which featured scenes from national parks designed to evoke a sense of calm and connection to the natural world.
- Digital art, specifically works created by Refik Anadol, a renowned visual artist known for his use of AI to create immersive, dynamic art installations.
By controlling for the common visual stimulation component—each condition involved watching videos—the researchers aimed to isolate the brain’s response to the meditative, natural, or artistic content.
Brain Activation Patterns during Different Transcendent Experiences
The results from the study revealed some intriguing insights into how meditation, nature viewing, and digital art viewing activate the brain differently. When compared to rest, meditation was associated with significant increases in blood oxygen level-dependent (BOLD) activity in several key regions of the brain, including:
- The bilateral lateral occipital and fusiform gyri (areas involved in object recognition and visual processing).
- The right postcentral gyrus, which plays a role in sensory processing.
- The hippocampus, which is crucial for memory and emotional regulation.
These regions suggest that meditation leads to a heightened state of sensory and memory processing, indicating a deeper engagement with internal states during the practice.
When comparing meditation to watching AI-generated digital art, the study revealed increased activation in the left parietal and central operculum, areas associated with sensory integration and sensory perception. Additionally, right pre- and postcentral gyri, involved in motor and sensory functions, were activated, suggesting that meditation engages more complex sensory and motor processing compared to the digital art viewing.
Similarly, when comparing meditation to viewing nature videos, researchers observed increased brain activity in several areas associated with sensory integration and error monitoring, such as the left sensory integration region (error monitoring), bilateral postcentral gyri, and supramarginal gyri, which play a role in sensory perception and spatial awareness.
Distinct Neural Signatures for Different Transcendent Practices
The findings of this study shed light on the distinct neural signatures of three different transcendental experiences. Meditation, in particular, activated brain regions associated with object recognition, sensory processing, and memory functions. In contrast, exposure to nature or digital art did not produce the same pattern of brain activity. This suggests that the meditative state might engage the brain in unique ways, potentially offering therapeutic benefits beyond those associated with simply viewing nature or engaging with art.
- Meditation vs. Rest: When compared to rest, meditation resulted in activation of brain regions involved in sensory processing and memory. This heightened brain activity could reflect the deep cognitive and emotional engagement typical of meditative practices.
- Meditation vs. Nature: Compared to nature videos, meditation was associated with activation in sensory integration regions and error monitoring areas. This could suggest that meditation involves a more active engagement of the brain’s cognitive resources, possibly due to the mental focus required in meditation practices.
- Meditation vs. Digital Art: Compared to watching digital art, meditation led to activity in regions linked to sensory integration and sensorimotor processes. This suggests that meditation involves a more comprehensive activation of brain regions related to both perception and action.
Implications for Future Research and Therapeutic Applications
Although the sample size in this study was relatively small, the results provide valuable insight into how different transcendent experiences—such as meditation, nature exposure, and digital art engagement—can uniquely influence the brain. The study opens the door for future research into how these experiences may be used as therapeutic tools to promote mental health, reduce stress, and improve overall well-being.
One of the key takeaways from this study is the potential of transcendental meditation as a unique form of mental exercise, capable of engaging the brain in ways that could help to alleviate stress and improve cognitive function. Given the growing interest in mindfulness and meditation practices, the findings could inform new approaches to managing stress-related disorders.
Dr. Helen Lavretsky, the senior author of the study, emphasized the need for further research to understand the neural mechanisms behind transcendental meditation and its potential therapeutic effects. “Further studies are needed to delineate the distinct neural signature and therapeutic effects of inner contemplation using human connection to art, nature, or meditative transcendent practices,” she stated. She also expressed interest in exploring the role of spiritual neuroscience and neuroesthetics in future research, as well as the potential clinical applications of these findings.
As Dr. Lavretsky and her team continue their work, they aim to further investigate the neural mechanisms underlying transcendence and how they might be used to support mental health and well-being. Future studies could expand the sample size, test different forms of meditation, and compare them with additional types of artistic and nature-based experiences to develop a more comprehensive understanding of how these practices impact the brain.
Conclusion
The study conducted by UCLA researchers provides compelling evidence that transcendental meditation, exposure to nature, and engagement with digital art each activate distinct patterns of brain activity. Meditation, in particular, appears to engage multiple brain regions involved in sensory processing, memory, and error monitoring, suggesting that this practice could be uniquely beneficial for mental health. By further exploring these brain activation patterns and their potential therapeutic effects, researchers may be able to develop more effective interventions for stress management and well-being.
As the field of neuroaesthetics and spiritual neuroscience grows, this research paves the way for new approaches to mental health care, offering hope for individuals seeking alternative ways to cope with stress and improve their overall quality of life. With further investigation, transcendental meditation, nature exposure, and art could emerge as powerful tools for enhancing well-being and reshaping our understanding of the mind-body connection.
Reference: Beatrix Krause-Sorio et al, Your brain on art, nature, and meditation: a pilot neuroimaging study, Frontiers in Human Neuroscience (2025). DOI: 10.3389/fnhum.2024.1440177