What would an MRI reveal about Buddha’s brain?

I’m really excited!

My meditation teacher, Stephen Mugen Snyder, Roshi, just informed his students that he was a participant in a study by the Harvard Medical School and Massachusetts General Hospital Meditation Research Program. 

The study looked at brain activity in five advanced meditators, including Stephen, using ultra-high-resolution 7T fMRI. It was the first ever study looking at “extended cessation” or  ‘nirodha samāpatti’ which is probably what we all think of when we picture the Buddha reaching enlightenment.

Extended cessation is defined as “a state of advanced meditation in which the meditator intentionally suppresses their own consciousness and re-emerges with a profound sense of clarity and equanimity” in the study. 

The meditators’ brain activity during extended cessation matched up with brain modes associated with alertness and sensory clarity, while less with brain modes associated with psychological suffering such as loss, pain, anxiety, fear, and stress, according to Matthew D. Sacchet, PhD, study author, writing about it on X.

So, basically, science just showed us that meditation can bring about a real sense of peace, clarity, and freedom from suffering, and it can be measured!

“For thousands of years, Theravāda Buddhism—an ancient tradition with origins in India—has described what is considered the highest meditative attainment, called nirodha samāpatti, regarded as deeply connected to nirvana/enlightenment.

For the first time, we have been able to use brain imaging techniques to observe material correlates related to this meditative event in advanced meditators: the physical signature of the human brain in this condition.

Our findings provide initial validation for those who have wondered whether such a state has measurable correlates, or questioned the reports of practitioners who describe it.” -Matthew D. Sacchett on X

It blows my mind that Stephen could meditate inside a very noisy MRI machine and experience the peace of extended cessation. He admitted that it was “tricky”--his word. 

I’m so grateful to have been learning from Stephen since 2021. Not only can he access cessation at will, he teaches others how to get there. He mentors me one on one. I’ve sat seven silent, residential retreats with him, and I’m finishing a two- year teacher training program with him this December. Next week, I’ll be doing a 21 day retreat with him. 

Stephen’s teaching emphasizes that cessation, awakening, and enlightenment are possible for all of us. Consistent with the Buddha’s teaching, Stephen believes that this profound experience of peace and equanimity can be available to everyone. 

And now science validates the meditation practices considered by traditional practitioners to be the path to well-being and relief from suffering. We might not be able to scan the brain of the actual Buddha, but studies like this help explain the real, lasting beneficial effects of meditation.

This is ground-breaking in so many ways. Many meditation teachers do not teach about cessation and awakening because they want to discourage ‘striving’ and expectations. Ironically, expectations tend to cause more suffering. 

But this study shows us what’s possible! And while expectations are a real and common obstacle to awakening, I’m very excited to go on this long retreat to deepen my practice and see what happens. Now, if I can JUST let go of the expectation…

You can download the preprint of the study here: 

Shinozuka K, Yang WFZ, Potash RM, Sparby T, Sacchet, MD. Neuroelectrophysiological correlates of extended cessation of consciousness in advanced meditators: A multimodal EEG and MEG study. 2025 bioRxiv doi.org/10.1101/2025.09.19.677455