Transcript DR.SUDHIR V. SHAH M.D.,D.M. (NEUROLOGY)

THE ART & SCIENCE
OF
MEDITATION
Dr Sudhir Shah
MD DM Neurology
Professor of Neurology – K.M.School of PGMR
Head, Department of Neurology – VSGH, AHD
Director of Neurosciences – Sterling Hospital
Consultant Neurologist - Ahmedabad, INDIA
India
3rd Jan 2010
Why Meditation ?
• We exist in two forms : body and mind.
: exercise.. (essay)
• At some stage you realize that peace and
happiness are not outside.
• The cause of miseries : thoughts, aspirations, past &
present and attitude
• The quest for the god.
• All great people have done meditation.
What is meditation
• Exercise of mind to keep it healthy
and clean, as we do for body.
• A state of altered consciousness.
• Fourth stage of consciousness.
• Spiritual ecstasy with neurological
manifestation.
• Not really a Hallucination.
• Caution.
Spirituality
Meditation
Philosophy
Devotion
RELIGION
Karmayoga
Charity
Character
Morality
Rituals
What is meditation? Definitions
•
Stability of mind
•
Wavering of mind is stopped
•
Concentration on one target
•
Unified thought process
•
Thoughtlessness
•
Introspection
•
Lack of activity
•
To leave, to give away
•
Mental aerobics
•
Intentional self regulation
•
Dedication
• Buddha
•
Stay connected
• Narad
• Patanjali
What is meditation? Definitions
Definition : Thinking deeply or spiritually about a
subject
It is a complex cognitive task
It is more than relaxation, concentration,
contemplation or posturing
Frees the mind from distractions and allows for
communication with the “Master Within”
The ultimate goal is ILLUMINATION : ENLIGHTENMENT
Meditation : advantages
• Physical, mental and emotional health.
• Cure / control of psychosomatic disorders including high
blood pressure, coronary artery disease, DM, asthma,
rheumatism etc.
• Stress relief.
• Spiritual health.
• Better concentration and sharpness.
• Produces relaxation and reduces reactivity.
• Improves Job performance.
• Interpersonal relations.
Meditation : advantages
• Brings change of attitude
• Inner peace, patience and happiness.
• Cultivates and promotes positive emotions and removes
negative thoughts.
• Helps in controlling anger and conquering fear.
• Brings control over thought process.
• Improves quality of life.
• Intuitive knowledge, healing power, magnetic personality and
occult powers.
Meditation is an antidote to stress
• The neuro chemistry and neuro physiology of
meditation
is
just
the
reverse
of
stress.
Stress : Over activity of Sympathetic system.
• Meditation:
system.
Over
activity
of
Parasympathetic
Caution
• However, it is not a push button system, you need
patience. Hence there is a 90 to 95% -drop out rate. You
need
to
have
right
guide,
right
method,
correct
understanding, appropriate place, constant practice,
extreme faith and full conviction.
• Please do not sleep.
• Meditation
industry
is
at
height,
because
commercialization, so one should be careful.
• Not to make comparisons, All systems are great
of
• Meditation
is
hard
work.
It
demands the highest form of
discipline which comes through
constant awareness, not only of
the things about you outwardly,
but also inwardly.
- J. Krishnamurti
The Real Purpose Of Meditation
• Elimination of Ego
• Elimination of Mind
MEDITATION :
PHILOSOPHICAL PURPOSE
• Philosophical self realization
• God realization
• Total bliss (total relief of pain)
• Total liberation
Meditation techniques
• Focus on Breathing
• Focus on an object, light
• Focus on a sound
• Focus on a thought
• Focus on sensual object
• Focus on sensory perception
• Imagery
• Soul meditation
Meditation Practice
• Choosing a place and atmosphere
• Sitting Posture
• Time of meditation
• Importance of Consistent Practice
• 4 purities : Mouth, Body, Place & Clothes
• Mental attitude –
“bare attention,” or neutral witness
• Pure
moment-to-moment
awareness,
or
mindfulness
Non-judgmental inner listening, equanimity
-WARMING UP• Prayer
• Pranayama……… internet connection……... Broadband
Meditation : methods
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Patanjal Dhyana
Anapan Sati
Smriti Upasthan
Vipashyana
Preksha Dhyana
Jain Dhyana
Spand Dhyana
Mantra Dhyana
Nabhi Dhyana
Swapna Dhyana
Nidra Dhyana
Yoga nidra, Nyas
Kriya Yoga
Mrutyu Dhyana
T.S Meditation
Kundalini
Kayotsarga
Tratak
Suryasamyam
Adarshdhyana (mirror)
Swaminarayan Dhyana
Arup Dhyana
Purnayoga Dhyana
Atit Dhyana (past)
Bhavidhyana (future)
Sarpalanchan Dhyana
Samarpana Dhyana
Tathata
Hoo-Dhyana (Dynamic
Meditation)
 Sahaj Dhyana
 Your own system
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All methods are great
PATANJAL RAJ YOGA
• Yama
:
Nonviolence, truth, non-stealing
celibacy and aparigriha
(Non-collectiveness)
• Niyama
:
• Asana
:
Purity, Penance (Austerity)
Satisfaction
Spiritual learning
Worship & dedication
• Pranayama
:
• Pratyaahar
:
• Dharna
:
• Dhyana
:
• Samadhi
:
Meditation over an
object, place or thought
Chakra, Flame or Photo with eyes
open or closed
Basic Instructions for Meditation
Anapan Sati
• To bring the attention to the breath, but not to control
the breathing. It is not pranayama.
• Give full attention to the feeling of the breath as it
goes in and out.
• Dwell in the present, moment by moment, breath by
breath.
• Observe
your
mind with moment-to-moment
awareness.
Basic Instructions for Meditation
• When attention wanders, note it and then gently bring
awareness back to the breath.
• Why breathing ? Truth, vital, secular, always with you,
present tense, carrier of mind – Emotions, thoughts, and
perversions
• Continue to watch the breath, accepting each moment
as it is for 1 hour. Not to loose single breath
- The power of ‘NOW’
- The concept of ‘VOID’
• When breathing takes consciousness into each cell, there
is a vital dance
Meditation-Techniques
• Smriti Upasthan :
Observation & awareness of thoughts
Budhha, Krishnamurti
Avoid conflict with mind
The root cause of miseries is thoughts
Study beginning, end, structure &
content of thoughts. Pl. do not criticize
Observe & know your thoughts
Study movement of mind and feel separated
This will lead to detachment with thoughts
Becoming aware of one’s consciousness
Observer will realize that himself is being
observed
• Purnayoga
Maharishi Aurobindo’s
method of combination Yoga
Empty your thoughts & know your mind
:
Meditation
Jaindhyana
• Jain religion is Bhavadharma, so
meditation is of utmost importance.
• Dharmadhyana & shukladhyana…
excellent remedy for all
health.
types of
• Several types of meditations.
• Samayik & kayotsarga are super
meditations.
• Preksha, vipashyana, granthibheda
• Atmadhyana.
Atmadhyana
• Meditating on the soul is one of the best
meditations.
• To remain constantly aware of the soul and its
characteristics and its functions. To dissociate soul
from the body at every moment and the sentinence
– the application of knowledge is the ultimate
meditation.
• Samayam api ma pamayae GOYAMA !
Meditation-Techniques
• Prekshadhyana : To see –To observe ( Jain Method-Lord Mahavir)
Acharya Tulsiji – Acharya Mahapragyaji
• Breathing (Shwas-Preksha)
• Thoughts (Vichar-Preksha)
• Body (Sharir-Preksha)
• Mind (Anupreksha)
• Leshyadhyana etc.
Prerequisites : Mitahaar, Mitbhashan, Maitri,
Pratikriya - Shunyakriya, Bhavkriya
Truth, Non-violence, non-stealing, celibacy and non-collectiveness
Meditation-Techniques
• Vipashyana : To see –To observe ( Buddha)
Goenkaji through mahasi sayado
Breathing : control of emotions & perversions
Thoughts : detachment from thoughts
Body and perception of sensations :
control of Raga and Dwesha
Vipashyana
Operation of the mind, by the mind
• Calm and quiet mind
• Awake and attentive mind
• Equanimous mind
The Sound of Om in a Drop of Oil
CHANTING MEDITATION
"Since all things are made by the
power of sound, of vibration, so can
we create this world by the same
power. The knowledge of sound is
supreme, for it is beyond all form. By
the knowledge of sound we obtain
the knowledge of creation, And the
mastery of that knowledge helps us
to rise to the formless. This knowledge
acts as our wings, helping us to rise
from the earth to heaven and
penetrate through life seen and
unseen."
-- Pir Hazrat Inayat Khan
To do chanting on mantra, its meaning and vibration
Effect of sound chanting
Mr. Emoto decided to see how thoughts and words affected the
formation of untreated, distilled water crystals by typing words onto
paper and then taping them on glass bottles overnight.
These are effects of the words
“Love and Appreciation”
These are the effects of “You
make me sick. I will kill you!”
A Yantra is a graphic representation
of the sound of Mantra
Mr. Emoto decided to see what effects music had upon the
structure of water. He placed distilled water between two
speakers for several hours while playing music and then
photographed the crystals that formed after the water was frozen.
The results of the effects of these two very different types of music
speak for themselves.
This is the effect of
Bach’s “Air for the G String”
This is the effects of Heavy
Metal Music
Mindfulness Practice
• Observing
the
body
and
mind
intentionally
Letting experiences unfold from moment to moment and
accepting them as they are.
• Observing thoughts without getting caught up in them.
No effort to control anything except the focus and direction
of the attention. Not a passive process, yet does not involve
trying to get anywhere.
• Eating meditation, sitting meditation, working meditation
and meditation during each act is the goal of mindfulness
practice.
Rule No. 1
• Wherever there is body, mind should also be
there without any exception
Rule No. 2
• Develop wakeful plain observorship
(Sakshibhav or Drushtabhav)
Rule No. 3
• Know your soul with your own soul.
Transcendental
Meditation (TM)
• Movement
founded
by Maharshi Mahesh
Yogi of India.
T.S.MEDITATION
Sri Sri Ravishankarji
• Sudarshan kriya
• Art of living course has
changed thousands of
lives
SILENCE / CONTEMPLATION
In the silence of the heart God speaks
Let God fill us, then only we speak.
Do small things with great love.
The fruit of silence…..is Prayer
The fruit of Prayer….. is Faith
The fruit of Faith……..is love
The fruit of Love …….is Service
- Mother Teresa
DHYANA YOGA
• Perfect relaxation
• Observorship
• Non Decisiveness
Dynamic Meditation
Purnayoga
Aspiration
Rejection
Surrender
Meditation : methods
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













Patanjal Dhyana
Anapan Sati
Smriti Upasthan
Vipashyana
Preksha Dhyana
Jain Dhyana
Spand Dhyana
Mantra Dhyana
Nabhi Dhyana
Swapna Dhyana
Nidra Dhyana
Yoga nidra, Nyas
Kriya Yoga
Mrutyu Dhyana
T.S Meditation
Kundalini
Kayotsarga
Tratak
Suryasamyam
Adarshdhyana (mirror)
Swaminarayan Dhyana
Arup Dhyana
Purnayoga Dhyana
Atit Dhyana (past)
Bhavidhyana (future)
Sarpalanchan Dhyana
Samarpana Dhyana
Tathata
Hoo-Dhyana (Dynamic
Meditation)
 Sahaj Dhyana
 Your own system
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All methods are great
Swapnadhyana
Nidradhyana
Yognidra
Nyasa
First Practice Silence of body, speech and learn to get isolated
Then, chanting, seeing an idol, inner flame, breathing etc.
Benefits of meditation
– Oxygen consumption is reduced by 16%, even
greater than the reduction of 12% in sleep
– Neural structures that are intimately related to the
control of the autonomic nervous system are
activated
– Diurnal, cyclic secretion of stress hormones
(adrenocorticotrophic hormone, cortisol and
beta-endorphin) is absent
STATISTICS
• Physicians,
Psychotherapists,
and
other
Professionals are increasingly adding Meditative
Techniques to their practice.
• Over six thousand Physicians have begun the
practice of Transcendental Meditation and
regularly recommend the TM technique to their
patients.
• Many Physicians consider Meditation a key
element of an Integrated Health Program.
Health Conditions in which
Yoga may help heal or treat
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Arthritis
Allergies
Asthma
Hypertension
Coronary Artery
Disease
Irritable Bowel
Syndrome
Heartburn (GERD)
Constipation
Tension Headaches
and Migraines
• PMS and Menstrual
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Discomfort
Menopause
Pain of the Back, Hips,
Knees
Depression & Anxiety
Substance Abuse
Skin Disorders
Chronic Fatigue
Syndrome
Overweight
Sleep Problems
Medical benefits of meditation
Researching the Benefits of on Meditation :
•
With 7 weeks of meditation, cancer patients decreased their
degree of depression, anxiety, anger, confusion, and chest and
stomach symptoms by 50% - and felt more vigor.
•
With 10 weeks of meditation, 2/3’s of chronic pain patients had
a 30% reduction in pain, and half had more than a 50%
reduction.
•
With 10 weeks of meditation, chronic pain patients had less
pain, less mood disturbances, used less pain medication, and
could be more active. The benefits were still present one year
later.
•
Three years after an 8-week meditation instruction, patients with
anxiety and panic disorders still showed a benefit.
•
All patients with fibromyalgia who meditated for 10 weeks
improved, and over half showed moderate to marked
improvement in pain, fatigue and quality of sleep.
Medical benefits of meditation
• Meditation has been found to be quite useful in most of the
psychosomatic disorders including asthma, rheumatism, gut
problems, blood pressure, diabetes etc.
• With 6 weeks of meditation irritable bowel syndrome patients had
less flatulance, belching, bloating and diarrhea.
• Even though daily fluctuations in cortisol are unchanged, people
who meditate don’t have the daily fluctuations in the cortisolstimulating hormone (ACTH), or beta-endorphins, suggesting a
change in feedback sensitivity.
• People trained in and performing an imagery-based relaxation
prior to injection, had less inflammatory reaction to chili pepper
“extract” (capsaicin) injected under the skin.
• With 6 months of meditation, athletes had less increase in the
CD8+ suppressor T cell response to strenuous physical stress,
improving the immune system’s helper to suppressor cell ratio. It
also reduces post-traumatic stress.
Medical benefits of meditation
• Patients who meditated during ultraviolet light treatment for
psoriasis had quicker clearing of their skin disease.
• With 6 months of meditating for 20 minutes twice a day,
hypertensive African Americans had a decrease in the carotid
artery wall thickness.
• With 4 years of daily meditation, coronary artery narrowing
showed regression rather than progression.
• Over a 5 year period, people who meditated had over 50% less
doctor’s office visits, and an average of 50% less hospital
admissions (including a reduction all 17 major treatment
categories such as benign and malignant tumors, heart disease,
infectious disease, and nervous system disorders). Only childbirth
rates were the unchanged.
Relative contraindications of meditation
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Psychosis
Severe depression
Confusional states
Extreme anxiety
• Dementias
Physiology of Meditation
• Meditation produces a specific physiological response
pattern that involves various biological systems.
• Mechanisms producing meditative effects include
metabolic, autonomic, endocrine, neurological, and
psychological manifestation.
• Physiological response to meditation occurs on a
multidimensional, interactive basis.
Neuro Electrical Changes During
Meditation
BETA: Alert/Working
14-20 waves per second
ALPHA: Relaxed/Reflecting 813 waves per second
THETA: Drowsy/Meditating 4-7
waves per second
DELTA: Sleep/Dreaming
3-4 waves per second
DELTA: Deep & Dreamless
Sleep .5-2 waves per sec
Neuroelectrical Effects
 Mediation (the Fourth State) was shown to
- increase Alpha (8-13 Hz or cycles per second)
production
- increase Theta (4-7 Hz) production
- increase high Beta (20 - 40 Hz) activity ( with experienced
meditators).
 Alpha patterns are associated with calm and focused attention.
 Theta patterns are associated with reverie, imagery, and
creativity.
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High Beta activity is associated with highly focused
concentration
Important features of EEG changes
related to meditation are :
Establishing alpha activity in spite of open eyes
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Increased amplitude of alpha activity
Slower frequency of alpha rhythm
Rhythmical theta waves
Increased synchronization (hypersynchronization)
Dissociation of perception from the external sense organs
Transcendent signal
Occasional fast wave activity
Decrease in Beta-wave activity after meditation
ALPHA brainwaves are the brainwaves of relaxed detached
awareness, visualization, sensory imagery and light reverie.
Ranging between about 8 cycles per second and 13 cycles per
second, alpha is the gateway to meditation and provides a
bridge between the conscious and the subconscious mind.
BETA brainwaves are the fastest frequencies ranging from 14 cycles
per second up to 38 cycles per second. Beta is your normal
thinking state, your active external awareness and thought
process. Without beta you would not be able to function in the
outside world.
THETA brainwaves are the subconscious mind. Ranging from
about 4 cycles per second up to 8 cycles per second, theta is
present in dreaming sleep and provides the experience of deep
meditation
when
you
meditate.
Theta
also
contains
the
storehouse of creative inspiration and is where you often have
your spiritual connection. Theta provides the peak in the peak
experience
The MEDITATION brainwave pattern is a combination of
alpha and theta where theta provides the depth and
profundity of the meditation experience – the subconscious
inner space from which creativity, insight, and healing
spring – and alpha provides the bridge, or the link, to the
conscious thinking mind so that you can actually remember
the contents of your meditation.
DELTA brainwaves are your unconscious mind, the sleep state,
ranging from about 4 cycles per second down to 0.5 cycles per
second. But when present in combination with other waves in a
waking state, Delta acts as a form of radar – seeking out
information – reaching out to understand on the deepest
unconscious level things that we can't understand through
thought
process.
Delta
provides
attunement, and instinctual insight.
intuition,
empathetic
AWAKENED MIND brainwave pattern
It is a brainwave pattern shared by people in higher states of
consciousness regardless of their philosophy, theology or
meditation technique. This brainwave pattern can be found
during “peak experience” and in all forms of creativity and
high performance
Permanent EEG changes
Davidson’s research is consistent with his earlier
work that pinpointed the left prefrontal cortex as a
brain region associated with happiness and
positive thoughts and emotions. Using functional
magnetic resonance imagining (fMRI) on the
meditating monks, Davidson found that their brain
activity – as measured by the EEG – was especially
high in this area
With chronic meditation, gamma wave
activity(high level information processing) is found
in many meditators
Evoked potentials & meditation
Meditation sometimes produces altered
amplitudes, with practitioners seeming to
demonstrate decreased amplitude & latency
for sensory EPs & with mindfulness inducing a
decrease in habituation
• In meditation the usual frameworks of time,
space and other aspects of conscious content
are absent, although the mind is not asleep
• Compared to quiet or slow-wave sleep, in which
brain blood flow is reduced, meditation shows no
reduction in total brain blood circulation or
perfusion
• Regional maps of brain blood flow/perfusion
differ among meditation, slow-wave sleep and
wakefulness
Neurobiology of Meditation
 Imaging, such as rCBF (regional Cerebral Blood
Flow), real time MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging),
MEG (magnetoencephalography), and improved
EEG (electoencephalography) allow detailed studies
in understanding the effects of meditation on neural
behavior.
 SPECT study shows- Parietal area of the brain is
responsible for giving us a sense of our orientation in
space and time. By blocking all sensory and
cognitive input into this area, meditation results in
the sense of no space and no time.
DYNAMIC BRAIN MAPPING
spatial resolution
cms
meg -eeg
fmri
pet
seeg
neurons
ms
temporal resolution
minutes
ANDREW NEWBERG
SPECT Images at Baseline and
During Meditation
Prefrontal Cortex
Baseline
Prefrontal Cortex
Meditation
SPECT Images at Baseline and
During Meditation
Baseline
Meditation
Superior
Parietal Lobe
Superior
Parietal Lobe
Comparison of Baseline to
Prayer : Limbic inhibition
Baseline Scan
LIMBIC
Prayer Scan
LIMBIC
Results from Meditation SPECT Study
Part of the Brain
P-value
Baseline
Mean
Meditatio
n Mean
Percent
Change
SD
Anterior Cingulate
0.0074
1.25
1.34
7.2
0.08
Cingulate Body
0.0001
0.91
1.14
25.3
0.13
DLPFC
0.0001
1.31
1.45
10.7
0.08
Inferior Frontal
0.0025
1.25
1.36
8.8
0.09
Midbrain
0.0166
1.16
1.29
11.2
0.14
Orbital Frontal
Cortex
0.0075
0.97
1.22
25.8
0.24
Posterior
Cingulate
0.0114
1.19
1.29
8.4
0.09
Sensorimotor
0.0017
1.19
1.26
5.9
0.06
Thalamus
0.0114
1.40
1.60
14.3
0.21
Summary of SPECT findings
 Increase rCBF in frontal lobe and shut down of
rCBF in OAA in parietal lobe is the key finding.
 This is not hallucination.
 All Meditators have same findings.
fMRI changes
during Meditation
Results
• Significant signal increases were observed in the
dorsolateral prefrontal and parietal cortices,
thalamus,
hippocampus/parahippocampus,
temporal lobe, pregenual anterior cingulate cortex,
striatum, and pre- and post-central gyri during
meditation.
• This indicates that the practice of meditation
activates neural structures involved in attention and
control of the autonomic nervous system.
– Neuroreport. 2000 May 15;11(7):1581-5. Functional brain
mapping of the relaxation response and meditation. Lazar
SW,…, Benson H.
fMRI changes during Meditation
• PET, SPECT & fMRI allow examination of changes
in regional blood flow, metabolism or receptor
(sites of neurochemical and drug actions)
activation in the brain in response to various
tasks
• Most types of meditation, which involve an initial
focusing of attention, are associated with
increased regional blood flow or glucose
metabolism in the prefrontal and cingulate
cortex, areas that are important in selection of a
mental task
• The frontal lobes, especially the prefrontal
regions help to organize, prioritize, plan and
focus attention
• During visualization regional blood flow
increases in the “visual cortex” and visual
association areas in the occipital lobes
• In contemplation of “self” the parietal lobes on
both sides are activated
visual imagery
meditation on weight of body parts
abstract perception of joy
symbolic representation of the self
Thalamus & Hippocampus in meditation
• Thalamus is a relay station and filtering station for
sensory information. Excitation of RN through PFC,
decreases activation of PSPL & thereby
decreases body awareness & also decreases
input to visual centre (GABA)
• The studies point to prefrontal activation
(predominantly right), transient hypofrontality,
increased frontal lobe & decreased parietal lobe
activity & also to a Deafferentation of the PSPL
• Functional Deafferentation means a decrease in
distracting stimuli to visual cortex & PSPL, hence,
increase focus
• This results in altered perception of selfexperience
• Activity in Hippocampus is increased in
connections with hypothalamus & autonomic
nervous system
• Stimulation of Right amygdala causes
stimulation of ventromedial hypothalamus &
peripheral parasympathetic system, thereby
causing subjective sensation of relaxation &
more profound sense of quiescence
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Herzog, et al., 1990 – PET, Yoga meditation
Jevning, et al., 1996 – Rheoencephalography, TM meditation
Lou, et al., 1999 – PET, Yoga Nidra
Lazar, et al., 2000 – fMRI, Kundalini Yoga
Khushu, et al., 2000 – fMRI, Raja Yoga
Baerensten, et al., 2001 – fMRI Onset of meditation
Newberg, et al., 2001 – SPECT, Tibetan meditation
Azari, et al., 2001 – PET, Psalm 23 recitation
Kjaer, et al., 2002 – PET 11C-raclopride binding, Yoga Nidra
Newberg, et al., 2003 – SPECT, Franciscan Prayer
Lazar, et al., 2003 – fMRI, Mindfulness vs. Kundalini
Ritskes, et al., 2003 – fMRI, Zen
Lazar, et al., 2005 – MRI, Buddhist Insight Meditation
Kakigi, et al., 2005 – fMRI, Noxious LASER stimulation of a Yoga
master who claims to feel no pain during meditation
• Orme-Johnson, et al., 2006 – fMRI, TM effects on brain
reactivity to pain
Neurochemical Changes During Meditation
 Meditation increases Serotonin production, an
important neurotransmitter and neuropeptide that
influences mood and behavior in many ways. It
can
stimulate
increased
production
of
Acetylcholine, involved in memory mechanisms &
attention
 Meditation
has
also
been
increased melatonin availability
associated
with
Neurochemical changes during meditation
• During meditation, locus ceruleus activity
decreases, thereby decreasing norepinephrine
production
• Relatively greater activity of parasympathetic
system causes decreased production of
catecholamines, epinephrine & norepinephrine
by adrenal medulla
Neurochemical Changes During Meditation
Neurochemical
Observed Change
CNS Structure
Arginine Vasopressin
Increased
Supraoptic Nucleus
GABA
Increased
Thalamus, other
inhibitory structures
Melatonin
Increased
Pineal Gland
Serotonin
Increased
Dorsal Raphe
Dopamine
Increased
Basal Gangia
Cortisol
Decreased
Norepinephrine
Decreased
Paraventricular
Nucleus
Locus Ceruleus
β-Endorphin
Rhythm changed;
levels unaltered
Arcuate Nucleus
Meditation and the
Autonomic Nervous System
• An increase in the skin resistance.
• Galvanic skin responses,
showed that meditators
recovered from stress more quickly than non-meditators.
• Decreased limbic arousal in the brain-reduces stress and
increases autonomic stability to stress.
• Reduction in limbic arousal may explain how meditation
strengthens and enhances the ability to cope with stress.
Meditation and the
Central Nervous System
 The practice of meditation decreases muscle reflex
time.
 Accelerates neural conduction or augments the release
of neurotransmitters, thereby decreasing synaptic time,
resulting in a change in muscle firing threshold and
pattern.
 By inhibiting the left cortical hemisphere, the sense of
time and logic no longer dominate consciousness
during meditation.Suppression of Ego faculty and later
on Mind.
The Plausible Hypothesis
• When meditation acts as a constant repetitive stimulus, certain
permanent qualitative and quantitative changes develop in
nervous system.
• Neurotransmitters and neuromodulators may stimulate growth of
dormant neurons to develop a centre higher than neocortexGod module.
• This higher centre will exert inhibitory control over present
neocortex and thereby over mind as a whole- thereby
suppressing consciousness and all mental activities.
• Spiritual ascent is from the least evolved state of consciousness to
near perfect state with which the mind itself will cease to be and
there will remain only non-dual experience.
Meditation and the Endocrine System
• Reduced blood levels of lactate, cortisol, and epinephrine.
• Reduces sympathetic adrenergic receptor sensitivity,
producing a decreased response to stressful situations .
• Increased levels of gamma aminobutyric acid (GABA),
melatonin and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate.
• Meditation produces its anxiolytic effects by promoting
GABA action in specific areas of the brain.
• Similar effects can be achieved by Reiki, Acupuncture.
Meditation and Metabolism
• A wakeful state accompanied by decreased metabolism.
• Decreased breathing pattern, decreased heart rate, and
decreased blood pressure.
• Blood flow to the kidneys and liver declined in the
practitioners, with an increase in cardiac output.
• Decrease in the level of oxygen utilization and carbon
dioxide elimination by muscles.
• The metabolic changes arise from a natural reduction in
metabolic activity at the cellular level, not from a forced
reduction of breathing.
• Longevity and delayed aging !
Meditation & Neuroplasticity
• A recent MRI study showed that, “brain regions
associated with attention, interoception &
sensory processing like the PFC & right anterior
insula were thicker in meditation practitioners”
• Meditation probably offsets age-related
cortical thinning & thereby suggesting to
promote Neuroplasticity
Meditation and Psychology
• Practice of meditation improves cognitive task
performance, increases mental concentration,
and reduces susceptibility to stress.
• Both subjective and objective examinations
reveal that meditation enhances perceptual
sensitivity.
Meditation and Psychology
• It improves the attitude & personality of a person
• Improved concentration and attention, allowing
for greater productivity, problem-solving,
creativity, learning ability and organization of
memory.
• Enhanced self-image
• Less “catastrophic reaction” to stressful situations,
e.g., in survivors of attempted suicide
• Better sociability, tolerance and compassion
• Improved mood, sleep & scores on selfactualization
Attitude
•
“ The Longer I live, the more I realize the impact of attitude on life.
Attitude to me, is more important than facts. It is more important
than the past, than education, successes, than what other people
think or say or do. It is more important than appearance,
giftedness or skill. It will make or break a company…….. a
church…. a home. The remarkable thing is we have a choice
every day regarding the attitude we will embrace for that day. We
can not change our past..... we cannot change the fact that
people will act in a certain way. We cannot change the inevitable.
The only thing we can do is to play on the only string we have, and
that is our attitude……. I am convinced that life is 10% what
happens to me and 90% how I react to it. And so it is with you…..
We are in charge of our Attitudes ”.
- Charles Swindoll
Neural correlates of anxiety
• Factors decreasing anxiety during meditation :
– Increased parasympathetic acitivity,
GABAergic drive, serotonin, endorphins & AVP
– Decreased LC firing with decreased
noradrenaline & decreased levels of stress
hormone cortisol
Depression
• Factors contributing antidepressant effect :
– Increase in serotonin, dopamine, melatonin,
endorphin & AVP
– Decrease in CRH & cortisol
Psychosis
• A variety of schizophrenic effects can be seen
• Meditation can induce psychotic states via
mechanisms such as :
– Increased 5HT 2 receptor activation, leading to
inhibition of LGB
– Increased DMT, causing hallucinogenic effects
– Increase in NAAG, having dissociative
hallucinogenic effects
– Increase in dopamine affecting temporal lobe
Implications for Psychiatry
•
•
•
•
•
Complementary & alternative medicine
? Alternative to Hypnosis
Low cost, with continuation for life
Group dynamics & group practice
Combination e.g. Mindfulness-Based Cognitive
Behavior Therapy or Spiritually Augmented CBT
• Enhancing one’s psychological resources/holistic
living/self actualization
• Meditative state changes may develop into traits
• Preventive Psychiatry
Unresolved issues – New Frontiers
• Although we can understand how the various lobes
and neurotransmitters function during meditation,
how are these actions directed and by whom?
• What accounts for the actual awareness of the
experience and of self and where are they
perceived?
• How do we actually know that something is true and
meaningful? What accounts for this conviction?
• The link with the Master Within and with Cosmic
Consciousness has not been explained and cannot
be approached from a neuroscience perspective
Four way Truth
• That there is a problem
• That there is a cause
• That there is a way
• If you follow the path, you will get the solution
“Now Monks, I have nothing more to
tell you but all that is composed
will decay. Strive after your own
Salvation.”
-Lord Buddha
WAIT AND MEDITATE,
TILL I CALL YOU BACK
- Swami Vivekananda
REFERENCES
• Jain Agam
• Dhyana Dipika, Dhyana Shatak
• Patanjal Yoga Sutra
• Holy Vedas, Puranas and Upanishadas
• Tripitak
• Dhyana Yoga
- Swami Vivekananda
• Meditation
- Osho
• Dhyana Kumbh
- Suresh Vakil
• Meditations
- J.Krishnamurti
• ‘Why God will not go away’
– Andrew Newberg
• Medical References from several journals
REFERENCES
• Aries et al;2006, Systematic review of efficacy of meditation
techniques, Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine
• Cahn B.R., Polich J.,(2006), Meditation states and traits:EEG,ERP and
neuroimaging studies, Psychol Bull,(2005),Meditation experience is
associated with increased cortical thickness,Neuroreport
• Mohandas E.,(2008) Neurobiology of spirituality, Mens Sena
Monograph.
• Newberg A.B.(2003),The neural basis of the complex mental task of
meditation:neurotransmitter and neurochemical consideration,Med
Hypotheses.
• U.S.Department of Health(2007) Meditation Practices for Health:state
of the Reasearch