The Current Study
Study Title
The Effects of Vipassana Meditation on Cognitive Function, Well-being, and Mental Health
Study Framework
The study is conducted by Julia Arditi, a Ph.D. candidate at the School of Psychology, the University of Auckland. It was approved by the New Zealand Vipassana Centre management and the University of Auckland Ethics Committee.
Study Rationale
Vipassana meditation as taught by Goenka is the most popular Vipassana practice. According to a survey, it is also the most effective in increasing well-being and decreasing stress. However, research on Goenka Vipassana is scarce.
Study Participants
Students of 10-day Vipassana meditation courses are welcome to participate.
Study Procedure
Participants will be randomized to an experimental and a control group. In the first group, they will complete a survey before, and after their Vipassana course. In the second, they will complete it twice before the course. All the participants will complete a survey three months following their course.
Study Materials
The survey includes cognitive tasks and a questionnaire. The tasks resemble computer games and examine short term memory, cognitive processing speed, and cognitive flexibility. The questionnaire evaluate different areas of well-being and mental health.
How to Participate?
Read the Participant Information Sheet
Sign the Consent Form
Links to the survey will be emailed to you
PARTICIPANT INFORMATION SHEET
Project title: The effects of Vipassana meditation as taught by Goenka on cognitive function, well-being, and mental health.
Name of Supervisor: Prof. Jeff Hamm
Name of Researcher: Julia Arditi
Researcher Introduction: Julia Arditi is a Ph.D. candidate at the School of Psychology, University of Auckland.
Project description and invitation
Although a survey showed that the practice of Vipassana, as taught by Goenka, was a stronger predictor of well-being than other types of meditation, studies that specifically research its effects are scarce. This study intends to investigate the effects of 10-day Vipassana meditation courses on cognitive function, well-being, and mental health. Students accepted for a 10-day Vipassana meditation course are welcome to participate.
Project Procedures
Participants will be assigned to one of two groups. The first group will complete an online survey, including tasks and a questionnaire, ten days before and ten days after their course. The second group will complete the survey twice before their course to control for test-retest effects. Both groups will complete it three months after their course.
The survey will evaluate meditation experience and practice, cognitive function, well-being, and mental health. It will be accessed through a link emailed to participants and will take about 45 minutes to complete.
Access to the Internet, a computer with a real keyboard (not a phone or tablet), and a good command of the English language are essential.
Participation is voluntary and confidential and does not affect the meditation course. Participants will receive a $30 Amazon voucher as a token of Appreciation.
Data storage/retention/destruction/future use
Questionnaires and test results will be encrypted and securely transmitted from the participant's browser to the PsyToolkit server in the United States. The researcher will download and save them in a coded format on a university server and delete them from the PsyToolkit server. During data collection, participants' identifying details will be stored separately from their results. After data collection, identifying details will be deleted, and data will be de-identified. De-identified data can be shared with other researchers and publishers through secure repositories but will be deleted after six years.
Anonymity and Confidentiality
During data collection, participants' identities will not be anonymous, as they have to be recognized by the researcher. However, participants' identities will be kept confidential, and their results will be stored in a coded format. At the end of data collection, identifying details will be deleted, and the data will be de-identified.
Right to Withdraw from Participation
Participation in the study is voluntary, and participants can withdraw at any time. They also have the right to withdraw their data for at least three months following data collection. Participants who want to withdraw their participation or data should contact the researcher.
Contact Details and Approval Wording
For any questions, please contact the researcher, Julia Arditi, Email: hard254@aucklanduni.ac.nz, Phone: 027-5917227.
You may also contact: The supervisor, Prof. Jeffery Hamm, E-mail: j.hamm@auckland.ac.nz.
Head of the School of Psychology, E-mail: n.harre@auckland.ac.nz, Phone number: 09 373- 7599 extn. 88512.
For any queries regarding ethical concerns, you may contact the Chair, University of Auckland Human Participants Ethics Committee, Ethics and Integrity Team, University of Auckland, Private Bag 92019, Auckland 1142. Telephone 09 373-7599 ext. 83711. Email: humanethics@auckland.ac.nz
APPROVED BY THE UNIVERSITY OF AUCKLAND HUMAN PARTICIPANTS ETHICS COMMITTEE ON 30/08/2023 FOR (3) YEARS, REFERENCE NUMBER UAHPEC26431
CONSENT FORM
(THIS FORM WILL BE HELD FOR A PERIOD OF 6 YEARS)
Project title: The effects of Vipassana meditation as taught by Goenka on cognitive function, well-being, and mental health.
Name of Supervisor: Prof. Jeff Hamm, Name of Researcher: Julia Arditi.
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I have read the Participant Information Sheet and have understood the nature of the research and why I have been selected. I have had the opportunity to ask questions and have them answered to my satisfaction.
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I agree to take part in this research.
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I understand that participation is voluntary and that I am free to withdraw my participation at any time and to withdraw any data traceable to me during the data collection period (after this period, identifying details will be deleted, and the data will be de-identified and non-traceable. If data will have to be shared to publish the research results, it will be shared in its de-identified form).
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I understand that data will be kept for 6 years, after which they will be destroyed.
APPROVED BY THE UNIVERSITY OF AUCKLAND HUMAN PARTICIPANTS ETHICS COMMITTEE ON 30/08/2023 FOR (3) YEARS, REFERENCE NUMBER UAHPEC26431
Frequently Asked Questions
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How many people participated so far?
Data collection started in the New Zealand Vipassana Centre, Dhamma Medini, on October 2024. As for 1st April 2025, thirty Vipassana students participated.
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How many participants are needed?
We will need about 150 participants. High participation rate will enable more substantial conclusions.
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What is the feedback from participants after completing the survey?
Participants reported enjoying the cognitive tasks and learning something about themselves.
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Will participants have access to the study results and conclusions?
Yes! The results and conclusions will be posted on this website and a link will be emailed to participants.
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Will participants have access to their own survey responses?
No, interpreting your own responses without the necessary background might lead to misunderstandings. The survey is not diagnostic. It is designed to detect group and not individual effects.
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Will participants receive a thank you gift?
Yes, after completing the three months follow-up participants will receive a $30 online Amazon voucher.
Meditators' Survey
A survey* of 1,668 meditators, published in 2022, demonstrated the effectiveness of Vipassana meditation as taught by Goenka.
The participants practiced different types of meditation, including focusing attention on the breath (88%), loving kindness (51%), mindful yoga (39%), open awareness (35%), mindful walking (28%), self enquiry (27%), visualization (25%), sound meditation (21%), focusing attention, other than breath (19%), mantra (17%), and Vipassana as taught by Goenka (9%).
Practicing Vipassana was the only predictor of reduced negative affect. In other words, Vipassana practitioners, but not practitioners of any other type of meditation, reported lower levels of negative emotions, such as anger and fright.
It was also the strongest predictor of reduced psychological distress. While both practitioners of mindful yoga and Vipassana meditation reported lower levels of distress, such as tiredness and nervousness, the levels among Vipassana meditators were more than twice as low than the level among yoga practitioners.
Similarly, Vipassana meditation was the stronger predictor of positive affect. Although practitioners of Vipassana, focused attention, sound meditation and yoga had higher levels of positive emotions such as happiness and joy, the levels among Vipassana meditators were almost twice as high than the levels among focused attention, sound meditation and yoga practitioners.
Finally, Vipassana meditation was the strongest predictor of increased satisfaction with one's life. While practitioners of Vipassana meditation, loving kindness, mindful yoga and self inquiry had higher levels of satisfaction with life, the levels among Vipassana meditators were almost twice as high than the levels among loving kindness, yoga and self inquiry practitioners.
The study authors and funders had no allegiance or affiliation with Vipassana as taught by Goenka.
*Bowles, N. I., Davies, J. N., & Van Dam, N. T. (2022). Dose–response relationship of reported lifetime meditation practice with mental health and wellbeing: A cross-sectional study. Mindfulness, 13(10), 2529-2546.
My Meditation Practice
I started meditating thirty five years ago, with a Transcendental Meditation course. However, I realized that no significant change was happening and ten years later I did my first 10-day course of Vipassana meditation as taught by Goenka. During these ten days I felt the practice impact strongly and I was fascinated with the theory. I decided to stick to the recommended daily dosage of meditation and see what happens. I also volunteered, like many other Vipassana meditators, doing the work necessary to run the courses. Many courses, and volunteering roles later, I can not be thankful enough for this opportunity. Slowly and steadily it brings about a change that could not have happened any other way.
My Research Experience
After I graduated with a Bachelor in Psychology, Sociology and Anthropology, I started a Master in Brain Sciences that turned into a Ph.D. In my thesis, I explored newborn babies' neural and behavioral reactions to the environment. Later on, in the same lab for early human development I researched premature infants. After my time at the early development lab ended, I wanted to broaden my research skills and completed another MSc in health sciences. In my thesis and in my later work at the health ministry, I explored population health gaps and inequalities. Now days, I am doing my second Ph.D. on the psychological effects of Vipassana meditation. My aim is to clarify its mechanisms and by that inspire its practice.
Here is a list of scientific publications I was involved in:
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Zucker, I., Arditi-Babchuk, H., Enav, T., & Shohat, T. (2016). Self-reported type 2 diabetes and diabetes-related eye disease in Jews and Arabs in Israel. Journal of immigrant and minority health, 18, 1328-1333.
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Merkin, S. S., Arditi-Babchuk, H., & Shohat, T. (2015). Neighborhood socioeconomic status and self-rated health in Israel: the Israel National Health Interview Survey. International journal of public health, 60, 651-658.
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Arditi‐Babchuk, H., Feldman, R., & Gilboa‐Schechtman, E. (2009). Parasympathetic reactivity to recalled traumatic and pleasant events in trauma‐exposed individuals. Journal of Traumatic Stress: Official Publication of The International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies, 22(3), 254-257.
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Arditi-Babchuk, H., Feldman, R., & Eidelman, A. I. (2009). Rapid eye movement (REM) in premature neonates and developmental outcome at 6 months. Infant Behavior and Development, 32(1), 27-32.
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Arditi, H., Feldman, R., Hammerman, C., & Eidelman, A. I. (2007). Cerebral blood flow velocity asymmetry, neurobehavioral maturation, and the cognitive development of premature infants across the first two years. Journal of Developmental & Behavioral Pediatrics, 28(5), 362-368.
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Arditi, H., Feldman, R., & Eidelman, A. I. (2006). Effects of human contact and vagal regulation on pain reactivity and visual attention in newborns. Developmental Psychobiology: The Journal of the International Society for Developmental Psychobiology, 48(7), 561-573.