编辑“覺察”（章节）

=== 神經學研究 ===
研究性學習也集中於利用神經成像技術、生理測量和行為測試來研究覺察對大腦的影響<ref name="Creswell" /><ref name=Sequeira>{{cite journal | vauthors = Sequeira S | title = Foreword to Advances in Meditation Research: neuroscience and clinical applications | journal = Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences | volume = 1307 | issue = 1 | pages = v-vi | date = January 2014 | pmid = 24571183 | doi = 10.1111/nyas.12305 | s2cid = 30918843 | bibcode = 2014NYASA1307D...5S }}</ref><ref name="Tang">{{cite journal | vauthors = Tang YY, Posner MI | title = Special issue on mindfulness neuroscience | journal = Social Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience | volume = 8 | issue = 1 | pages = 1–3 | date = January 2013 | pmid = 22956677 | pmc = 3541496 | doi = 10.1093/scan/nss104 }}</ref>。關於覺察冥想如何運作的神經學觀點研究表明，它在注意力調節、身體意識和情緒調節的組成部分中發揮作用<ref name="Holzel" />。在考慮到責任感、真實性、同情心、自我接納和性格等方面時，研究表明，覺察冥想有助於形成更連貫、更健康的自我意識和認同感<ref>{{cite journal | vauthors = Crescentini C, Capurso V | title = Mindfulness meditation and explicit and implicit indicators of personality and self-concept changes | journal = Frontiers in Psychology | volume = 6 | pages = 44 | year = 2015 | pmid = 25688222 | pmc = 4310269 | doi = 10.3389/fpsyg.2015.00044 | doi-access = free }}</ref><ref name=Crescentini>{{cite journal | vauthors = Crescentini C, Matiz A, Fabbro F | title = Improving personality/character traits in individuals with alcohol dependence: the influence of mindfulness-oriented meditation | journal = Journal of Addictive Diseases | volume = 34 | issue = 1 | pages = 75–87 | year = 2015 | pmid = 25585050 | doi = 10.1080/10550887.2014.991657 | s2cid = 8250105 }}</ref>。神經成像技術表明，正念冥想等覺察練習跟「[[前扣帶皮層]]、[[島葉]]、{{le|顳頂交界點|Temporoparietal junction}}、{{le|額葉邊緣網絡|fronto-limbic network}}和{{le|預設模式網絡|Default mode network}}的結構」<ref name=Holzel>{{cite journal | vauthors = Hölzel BK, Lazar SW, Gard T, Schuman-Olivier Z, Vago DR, Ott U | title = How Does Mindfulness Meditation Work? Proposing Mechanisms of Action From a Conceptual and Neural Perspective | journal = Perspectives on Psychological Science | volume = 6 | issue = 6 | pages = 537–559 | date = November 2011 | pmid = 26168376 | doi = 10.1177/1745691611419671 | s2cid = 2218023 }}</ref><ref name=Gotink2>{{cite journal | vauthors = Gotink RA, Meijboom R, Vernooij MW, Smits M, Hunink MG | title = 8-week Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction induces brain changes similar to traditional long-term meditation practice - A systematic review | journal = Brain and Cognition | volume = 108 | pages = 32–41 | date = October 2016 | pmid = 27429096 | doi = 10.1016/j.bandc.2016.07.001 | s2cid = 205791079 }}</ref>。此外，覺察冥想可以預防或延緩[[輕度認知障礙]]和[[阿茲海默症]]疾病的發作<ref name=Larouche>{{cite journal | vauthors = Larouche E, Hudon C, Goulet S | title = Potential benefits of mindfulness-based interventions in mild cognitive impairment and Alzheimer's disease: an interdisciplinary perspective | journal = Behavioural Brain Research | volume = 276 | pages = 199–212 | date = January 2015 | pmid = 24893317 | doi = 10.1016/j.bbr.2014.05.058 | hdl-access = free | s2cid = 36235259 | hdl = 20.500.11794/39836 }}</ref>。此外，覺察引起的情緒和行為變化被發現是跟大腦的功能和結構變化有關<ref name="Gotink2" /><ref name=Last2017>{{cite journal | vauthors = Last N, Tufts E, Auger LE | title = The Effects of Meditation on Grey Matter Atrophy and Neurodegeneration: A Systematic Review | journal = Journal of Alzheimer's Disease | volume = 56 | issue = 1 | pages = 275–286 | year = 2017 | pmid = 27983555 | doi = 10.3233/JAD-160899 }}</ref>。也有建議大腦的預設模式網絡可用作監測冥想治療效果的一種潛在生物標誌物<ref name=biomarker>{{cite journal | vauthors = Simon R, Engström M | title = The default mode network as a biomarker for monitoring the therapeutic effects of meditation | journal = Frontiers in Psychology | volume = 6 | pages = 776 | year = 2015 | pmid = 26106351 | pmc = 4460295 | doi = 10.3389/fpsyg.2015.00776 | doi-access = free }}</ref>。最近的研究還表明，覺察練習可以影響基因表達，從而降低炎症相關疾病的風險和生物標誌物的有利變化<ref name= Buric2017>{{cite journal | vauthors = Buric I, Farias M, Jong J, Mee C, Brazil IA | title = What Is the Molecular Signature of Mind-Body Interventions? A Systematic Review of Gene Expression Changes Induced by Meditation and Related Practices | journal = Frontiers in Immunology | volume = 8 | pages = 670 | year = 2017 | pmid = 28670311 | pmc = 5472657 | doi = 10.3389/fimmu.2017.00670 | doi-access = free }}</ref><ref name=Sanada2017>{{cite journal | vauthors = Sanada K, Alda Díez M, Salas Valero M, Pérez-Yus MC, Demarzo MM, Montero-Marín J, García-Toro M, García-Campayo J | display-authors = 6 | title = Effects of mindfulness-based interventions on biomarkers in healthy and cancer populations: a systematic review | journal = BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine | volume = 17 | issue = 1 | pages = 125 | date = February 2017 | pmid = 28231775 | pmc = 5324275 | doi = 10.1186/s12906-017-1638-y }}</ref>。

在覺察減壓之後，大腦區域中負責調節情緒、自我參照處理、學習和記憶過程的灰質濃度顯示出密度變化<ref name= HolzelCarmody2011 >{{cite journal | vauthors = Hölzel BK, Carmody J, Vangel M, Congleton C, Yerramsetti SM, Gard T, Lazar SW | title = Mindfulness practice leads to increases in regional brain gray matter density | journal = Psychiatry Research | volume = 191 | issue = 1 | pages = 36–43 | date = January 2011 | pmid = 21071182 | pmc = 3004979 | doi = 10.1016/j.pscychresns.2010.08.006 }}</ref><ref name="biomarker" />。此外，覺察減壓的實踐與免疫系統的改善有關<ref name="Creswell"/><ref name="BlackSlavich2016"/>，這可以解釋減輕壓力與提高生活質量之間的相關性<ref name=deVibe2017>{{cite journal |vauthors= de Vibe M, Bjørndal A, Fattah S, Dyrdal GM, Halland E, Tanner-Smith EE |title= Mindfulness‐based stress reduction (MBSR) for improving health, quality of life and social functioning in adults: a systematic review and meta‐analysis |journal= Campbell Systematic Reviews |volume=13 |issue=1 |pages=1–264| doi=10.4073/csr.2017.11 |year=2017|doi-access= free}}</ref>。這些變化的部分原因是[[前額葉皮層]]（執行功能）和[[海馬體]]（學習和記憶能力）增厚的結果，[[杏仁核]]（情緒和壓力反應）的萎縮，與加強腦細胞之間的聯繫<ref name=pmid22393318>{{cite journal | vauthors = Luders E, Kurth F, Mayer EA, Toga AW, Narr KL, Gaser C | title = The unique brain anatomy of meditation practitioners: alterations in cortical gyrification | journal = Frontiers in Human Neuroscience | volume = 6 | pages = 34 | year = 2012 | pmid = 22393318 | pmc = 3289949 | doi = 10.3389/fnhum.2012.00034 | doi-access = free}}
*{{cite news |author=Mark Wheeler |date=March 14, 2012 |title=Evidence builds that meditation strengthens the brain, UCLA researchers say |work=UCLA Newsroom |url=http://newsroom.ucla.edu/releases/evidence-builds-that-meditation-230237 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140505002155/http://newsroom.ucla.edu/releases/evidence-builds-that-meditation-230237 |archive-date=2014-05-05}}</ref><ref name=CRD>{{cite journal | pmid = 21534932 | year = 2011 | last1 = Fjorback | first1 = L. O. | last2 = Arendt | first2 = M. | last3 = Ornbøl | first3 = E. | last4 = Fink | first4 = P. | last5 = Walach | first5 = H. | title = Mindfulness-based stress reduction and mindfulness-based cognitive therapy: A systematic review of randomized controlled trials | journal = Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica | volume = 124 | issue = 2 | pages = 102–119 | doi = 10.1111/j.1600-0447.2011.01704.x | s2cid = 8410167 }}</ref><ref name=SAMHSA>{{cite web |url= http://nrepp.samhsa.gov/ViewIntervention.aspx?id=238 |publisher= [[Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration]] |title= Intervention Summary: Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) |access-date= February 8, 2015 |archive-date= 2015-02-09  |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20150209023621/http://nrepp.samhsa.gov/ViewIntervention.aspx?id=238 |url-status= dead }}</ref>。相比於不冥想的人，長期冥想者有大量的{{le|腦迴化|Gyrification}}（大腦皮層的「折疊」，可能會讓大腦更快地處理信息）。再者，在旋轉量和冥想年數之間發現了直接相關性，這可能進一步證明了大腦的神經可塑性，或適應環境變化的能力<ref name=pmid22393318 />。