Jhana
MeditationA sequence of progressively deeper meditative absorption states in Buddhist practice, each marked by the dropping away of a coarser mental factor as concentration deepens.
Example: A 2024 intensive case study using 7T fMRI found jhana practitioners reported progressive sensory fading alongside slowed respiration — but unlike anesthesia or sleep, their brains showed no collapse in neural complexity, and their response to unexpected sounds actually got stronger, not weaker.
What is jhana?
A sequence of progressively deeper meditative absorption states in Buddhist practice, each marked by the dropping away of a coarser mental factor as concentration deepens.
What did brain imaging find in experienced jhana practitioners?
A 2024 intensive case study using 7T fMRI found jhana practitioners reported progressive sensory fading alongside slowed respiration — but unlike anesthesia or sleep, their brains showed no collapse in neural complexity, and their response to unexpected sounds actually got stronger, not weaker.