Regular meditation practice improves cognitive function such as attention and memory in healthy adults.

Is it true that regular meditation practice improves cognitive function such as attention and memory in healthy adults?

Partly. Evidence is mixed and only partial: a systematic review of Transcendental Meditation trials found no support for cumulative cognitive benefits, while a 2025 review of spiritual practices and a review of meditation in aging report some positive effects on attention and memory, and a yoga review claims cognitive benefits in older adults. No item settles the claim for healthy adults generally.

Verdict: CONTESTED PARTIAL · 4 sources for, 3 against · Last checked 3 Oct 2026

The private library was unavailable for some searches in this check. Missing library results are not evidence against the claim.

KC, B., H, O., ACO, B., S, M., S, A., C, N., Jr, T. R., & HG, K. (2025). Potential Mechanisms of Influence Between Spiritual Practices and Cognitive Health: A Systematic Review and Conceptual Model.. doi.org. https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci15121296

How to improve working memory in adults?. (2019). psychology.stackexchange.com. https://psychology.stackexchange.com/questions/23136/how-to-improve-working-memory-in-adults

Effect of Meditation on Cognitive Functions in Context of Aging and Neurodegenerative Diseases - PMC Lock. (n.d.). pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnbeh.2014.00017

YOGA FOR HEALTHY AGEING. (2026). doi.org. https://doi.org/10.26643/ijr/110

The Impact of Meditation on Academic Performance and Cognitive Abilities. (2024). doi.org. https://doi.org/10.36948/ijfmr.2024.v06i02.15225

The cumulative effects of Transcendental Meditation on cognitive function — a systematic review of randomised controlled trials. (2003). doi.org. https://doi.org/10.1007/bf03040500

Do Mindfulness Meditation Participants Do Their Homework? And Does It Make a Difference? A Review of the Empirical Evidence. (n.d.). cir.nii.ac.jp. https://doi.org/10.1891/0889-8391.23.3.198