Meditation Gets 7,340 Studies

A PubMed search for "meditation" returns 7,340 studies. Meditation combined with EEG or brainwave research: 458 papers. We know a lot about brain activity during focused attention meditation, open monitoring meditation, transcendental meditation, compassion meditation. We've mapped the alpha waves, the theta increases, the gamma synchronization. Universities compete for grants to study mindfulness. Hospitals integrate meditation into treatment protocols. This is legitimate, funded, mainstream science.

Meanwhile, other practices – shamanism, prayer, playing the didgeridoo – get almost nothing.