How does meditation work?

Karin Matko.
Meditation and meditative techniques are found in almost all cultures of the world. Originally, it was a means for immersion, self-exploration and spiritual purposes with the goal of enlightenment. Nowadays, meditation is used much more widely and for everyday purposes such as stress reduction or an increase in well-being. Numerous studies prove its positive effect on health, psyche and brain. Nevertheless, it remains unclear what exactly meditation actually is and how and for whom it works. This lecture will introduce you to the variety of meditation techniques and discuss potential mechanisms of action. In doing so, it will address how different meditation techniques affect the psyche and brain, and the extent to which the traditional context of meditation influences this effect. Ultimately, people respond very differently to meditation, and there are preliminary indications of who may particularly benefit from it.


Karin Matko, studied psychology in Dresden and Nottingham and did her PhD on the diversity and effectiveness of meditation and yoga at the TU Chemnitz. She is a certified yoga teacher and combines science and practice in her research and teaching activities. As an expert in research methods, she conducted numerous studies to shed light on and understand the mechanisms of action of meditation from different perspectives. Currently, she is collaborating with the University of Oxford Mindfulness Research Centre on issues related to the individual fit of meditation techniques.