Meditation may reshape your brain, new scan study hints

NCT ID NCT05418608

Completed Knowledge-focused Sponsor: Yale University Source: ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026

Summary

This study used PET scans to compare the density of synapses—connections between brain cells—in 40 people: experienced meditators and non-meditators. Researchers gave participants a radioactive tracer that binds to a protein on synapses, then scanned their brains. The goal was to see if long-term meditation is linked to differences in brain structure.

What this could mean

Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.

Active substance: [11C]UCB-J (a radioactive tracer for PET scans)
What this could lead to: If successful, this could reveal how meditation changes the brain at a microscopic level, pointing toward new ways to support mental health.
What could go wrong: This is a small, early-phase imaging study with only 40 participants, so results may not apply broadly. It measures brain activity, not health outcomes.

This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.

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Conditions

The condition(s) this trial relates to.

Health Behavior

As listed by the trial registrant

The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.

BEHAVIOR, HEALTH

Contacts and locations

Locations

Yale University PET Center

New Haven, Connecticut, 06519, United States

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Other studies related to the condition(s) this trial covers.