ABSTRACT
Visualization-based meditation techniques have been mostly neglected in previous scientific research on meditation, yet are broadly applied as part of contemplative training across traditions. The chapter explains current scientific understanding of mental imagery and its role in mental health, and then proceeds to an explanation of visualization-based meditation practices in the Tibetan Buddhist tradition. Research evidence on changes in the brain and cognitive processing associated with visualization-based meditation is presented. The final section of the chapter integrates insights from the theoretical considerations with examples of how to introduce visualization-based meditation into everyday activities.
