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Ventura B, Çatal Y, Wolman A, Buccellato A, Cooper AC, Northoff G. Intrinsic neural timescales exhibit different lengths in distinct meditation techniques. Neuroimage 2024; 297:120745. [PMID: 39069224 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2024.120745] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2024] [Revised: 07/12/2024] [Accepted: 07/18/2024] [Indexed: 07/30/2024] Open
Abstract
Meditation encompasses a range of practices employing diverse induction techniques, each characterized by a distinct attentional focus. In Mantra meditation, for instance, practitioners direct their attention narrowly to a given sentence that is recursively repeated, while other forms of meditation such as Shoonya meditation are induced by a wider attentional focus. Here we aimed to identify the neural underpinnings and correlates associated with this spectrum of distinct attentional foci. To accomplish this, we used EEG data to estimate the brain's intrinsic neural timescales (INTs), that is, its temporal windows of activity, by calculating the Autocorrelation Window (ACW) of the EEG signal. The autocorrelation function measures the similarity of a timeseries with a time-lagged version of itself by correlating the signal with itself on different time lags, consequently providing an estimation of INTs length. Therefore, through using the ACW metric, our objective was to explore whether there is a correspondence between the length of the brain's temporal windows of activity and the width of the attentional scope during various meditation techniques. This was performed on three groups of highly proficient practitioners belonging to different meditation traditions, as well as a meditation-naïve control group. Our results indicated that practices with a wider attentional focus, like Shoonya meditation, exhibit longer ACW durations compared to practices requiring a narrower attentional focus, such as Mantra meditation or body-scanning Vipassana meditation. Together, we demonstrated that distinct meditation techniques with varying widths of attentional foci exhibit unique durations in their brain's INTs. This may suggest that the width of the attentional scope during meditation relates and corresponds to the width of the brain's temporal windows in its neural activity. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT: Our research uncovered the neural mechanisms that underpin the attentional foci in various meditation techniques. We revealed that distinct meditation induction techniques, featured by their range of attentional widths, are characterized by varying lengths of intrinsic neural timescales (INTs) within the brain, as measured by the Autocorrelation Window function. This finding may bridge the gap between the width of attentional windows (subjective) and the width of the temporal windows in the brain's neural activity (objective) during different meditation techniques, offering a new understanding of how cognitive and neural processes are related to each other. This work holds significant implications, especially in the context of the increasing use of meditation in mental health and well-being interventions. By elucidating the distinct neural foundations of different meditation techniques, our research aims to pave the way for developing more tailored and effective meditation-based treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bianca Ventura
- School of Psychology, University of Ottawa, 136 Jean-Jacques Lussier, Ottawa K1N 6N5, ON, Canada.
| | - Yasir Çatal
- The Royal's Institute of Mental Health Research & University of Ottawa, Brain and Mind Research Institute, Centre for Neural Dynamics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, 145 Carling Avenue, Rm. 6435, Ottawa K1Z 7K4, ON, Canada.
| | - Angelika Wolman
- School of Psychology, University of Ottawa, 136 Jean-Jacques Lussier, Ottawa K1N 6N5, ON, Canada.
| | - Andrea Buccellato
- Padova Neuroscience Center, University of Padova, Via Orus 2/B, Padova 35129, Italy; Department of General Psychology, University of Padova, Via Venezia, 8, 35131 Padova, Italy.
| | - Austin Clinton Cooper
- Integrated Program of Neuroscience, Room 302, Irving Ludmer Building, 1033 Pine Avenue W., McGill University, Montreal, QC H3A 1A1, Canada.
| | - Georg Northoff
- The Royal's Institute of Mental Health Research & University of Ottawa, Brain and Mind Research Institute, Centre for Neural Dynamics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, 145 Carling Avenue, Rm. 6435, Ottawa K1Z 7K4, ON, Canada.
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The Effects of Mindfulness and Buddhist Meditation Coaching on Mental Health Outcomes in College Students. EVIDENCE-BASED COMPLEMENTARY AND ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE 2022; 2022:8178930. [DOI: 10.1155/2022/8178930] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2022] [Revised: 10/21/2022] [Accepted: 11/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
College students are vulnerable to diverse mental health disorders. We aimed to investigate whether a meditation class would be an effective means to address students’ mental health challenges. Among the college students who registered for the meditation course, 256 participants were enrolled. The meditation course was a 15-week program incorporating mindfulness meditation and Ganhwa Seon (a traditional Buddhist meditation). A questionnaire was administered twice, on the first and last class of the course, collecting information on personal characteristics and six mental health indicators. A paired t-test was used to examine whether the meditation course conferred benefit on the mental health indicators, and logistic regression analyses were run to identify factors associated with mental health outcomes. After completing the meditation course, there were significant improvements for the adult ADHD score
and ego identity (p = 0.02) but not for the other outcomes. Among college students, meditation practice may have positive effects on the adult ADHD score and ego identity.
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Matko K, Berghöfer A, Jeitler M, Sedlmeier P, Bringmann HC. Who Benefits Most? Interactions between Personality Traits and Outcomes of Four Incremental Meditation and Yoga Treatments. J Clin Med 2022; 11:4553. [PMID: 35956171 PMCID: PMC9369882 DOI: 10.3390/jcm11154553] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2022] [Revised: 07/29/2022] [Accepted: 07/31/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Mind-Body Medicine (MBM) includes a broad range of interventions with proven preventive and clinical value, such as yoga and meditation. However, people differ in their preferences and response to different MBM treatments and it remains unclear who benefits most from what type of practice. Thus, finding moderators of treatment outcome seems to be a promising approach. This was the aim of the present study. We conducted a single-case multiple-baseline study investigating the outcomes and moderators of four different MBM treatments. Fifty-seven healthy participants with no prior experience were randomly assigned to three baselines (7, 14, and 21 days) and four eight-week treatments: mantra meditation alone, meditation plus physical yoga, meditation plus ethical education and meditation plus yoga and ethical education. We analysed the data using effect size estimation, multiple regression and cluster analyses. High anxiety, high absorption, low spirituality, low openness and younger age were associated with a range of positive outcomes, such as increased wellbeing or decentering and decreased mind wandering. Receiving ethical education consistently improved wellbeing, while engaging in physical yoga reduced mind wandering. In the cluster analysis, we found that participants with a more maladaptive personality structure enhanced their emotion regulation skills more. Consequently, people do differ in their response to MBM interventions and more vulnerable people, or those high in absorption, seem to benefit more. These findings could support the development of custom-tailored MBM interventions and help clinicians to make scientifically sound recommendations for their patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karin Matko
- Institute of Psychology, Chemnitz University of Technology, 09120 Chemnitz, Germany
| | - Anne Berghöfer
- Institute of Social Medicine, Epidemiology and Health Economics, Charité—Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, 10117 Berlin, Germany
| | - Michael Jeitler
- Institute of Social Medicine, Epidemiology and Health Economics, Charité—Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, 10117 Berlin, Germany
| | - Peter Sedlmeier
- Institute of Psychology, Chemnitz University of Technology, 09120 Chemnitz, Germany
| | - Holger C. Bringmann
- Institute of Social Medicine, Epidemiology and Health Economics, Charité—Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, 10117 Berlin, Germany
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Krankenhaus Spremberg, 03130 Spremberg, Germany
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Sharma K, Wernicke AG, Rahman H, Potters L, Sharma G, Parashar B. A Retrospective Analysis of Three Focused Attention Meditation Techniques: Mantra, Breath, and External-Point Meditation. Cureus 2022; 14:e23589. [PMID: 35386478 PMCID: PMC8967094 DOI: 10.7759/cureus.23589] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 03/27/2022] [Indexed: 12/01/2022] Open
Abstract
Objective The goal of this study is to compare the effectiveness of three different meditation techniques (two internal focus techniques and one external focus technique) using a low-cost portable electroencephalography (EEG) device, namely, MUSE, for an objective comparison. Methods This is an IRB-approved retrospective study. All participants in the study were healthy adults. Each study participant (n = 34) was instructed to participate in three meditation sessions: mantra (internal), breath (internal), and external point. The MUSE brain-sensing headband (EEG) was used to document the "total time spent in the calm state" and the "total time spent in the calm or neutral state" (outcomes) in each three-minute session to conduct separate analyses for the meditation type. Separate generalized linear models (GLM) with unstructured covariance structures were used to examine the association between each outcome and the explanatory variable (meditation type). For all models, if there was a significant association between the outcome and the explanatory variable, pairwise comparisons were carried out using the Tukey-Kramer correction. Results The median time (in seconds) spent in the calm state while practicing mantra meditation was 131.5 (IQR: 94-168), while practicing breath meditation was 150 (IQR: 113-164), and while practicing external-point meditation was 100 (IQR: 62-126). Upon analysis, there was a significant association between the meditation type and the time spent in the calm state (p-value = 0.0006). Conclusion This is the first study comparing "internal" versus "external" meditation techniques using an objective measure. Our study shows the breath and mantra technique as superior to the external-point technique as regards time spent in the calm state. Additional research is needed using a combination of "EEG" and patient-reported surveys to compare various meditative practices. The findings from this study can help incorporate specific meditation practices in future mindfulness-based studies that are focused on healthcare settings and on impacting clinical outcomes, such as survival or disease outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kirti Sharma
- College of Humanities and Sciences, Virginia Commonwealth University, Gainesville, USA
| | - A Gabriella Wernicke
- Department of Radiation Medicine, Zucker School of Medicine/Northwell Health, Lake Success, USA
| | - Husneara Rahman
- Department of Biostatistics, Zucker School of Medicine/Northwell Health, Lake Success, USA
| | - Louis Potters
- Department of Radiation Medicine, Zucker School of Medicine/Northwell Health, Lake Success, USA
| | - Gopesh Sharma
- Graduate School of Education, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, USA
| | - Bhupesh Parashar
- Department of Radiation Medicine, Zucker School of Medicine/Northwell Health, Lake Success, USA
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Rohela P, Olendzki B, McGonigal LJ, Villa A, Gardiner P. A Teaching Kitchen Medical Groups Visit with an eHealth Platform for Hypertension and Cardiac Risk Factors: A Qualitative Feasibility Study. J Altern Complement Med 2021; 27:974-983. [PMID: 34357790 DOI: 10.1089/acm.2021.0148] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction: Our Whole Lives-Hypertension (OWL-H) is an eHealth toolkit for hypertension and cardiac risks factors. It is a hybrid online self-management platform that teaches blood pressure (BP) self-monitoring and evidence-based lifestyle modifications combined with in-person teaching kitchen medical group visit. Qualitative feedback from participants regarding the facilitators and barriers of using OWL-H has been discussed in this article. Methods: The OWL-H platform was pilot tested in a pre-post trial with two cohorts of participants with hypertension (N = 24). The online intervention utilized OWL-H for teaching mindfulness meditation, the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension nutrition plan, and evidence-based strategies for lifestyle modifications. Three in-person teaching kitchen medical group visits were held to demonstrate cooking skills to reinforce the online platform. Semi-structured focus group discussions (FGDs) were held after the intervention. Results: Fourteen of the 24 participants in the trial participated in the FGDs, and 1 participant provided feedback in a solo interview. Major themes that emerged included: (1) participants' request to tailor OWL-H's recipes and meal planning to suit their own dietary needs or preferences, to personalize the Home Practices (e.g., meditation) according to individual preferences (e.g., addition of nature sounds or guided visual imagery); (2) the strengths and weaknesses of OWL-H as a BP self-monitoring tool; (3) the need for community support in managing BP; and (4) participants noted lack of time, work and commute, Internet connectivity, stress, and sickness as obstacles in using OWL-H. Participants described feeling outpaced by the growth of technology and raised concerns of poor Internet connectivity hampering their use of OWL-H. Conclusion: OWL-H and the accompanying teaching kitchen medical group visit are potential tools to help reduce hypertension and cardiac risk factors. The intervention was found to have acceptability among people with lower income. Clinical Trials Registration#: NCT03974334.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pallavi Rohela
- Department of Family Medicine and Community Health, and University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
| | - Barbara Olendzki
- Department of Population and Quantitative Health Sciences, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
| | - Lisa J McGonigal
- Department of Family Medicine and Community Health, and University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
| | - Ariel Villa
- Department of Family Medicine and Community Health, and University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
| | - Paula Gardiner
- Department of Family Medicine and Community Health, and University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
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Burke A, Hassett S. Evaluating an Instructional Resource Used for Teaching and Learning Meditation: a Pilot Study. JOURNAL OF COGNITIVE ENHANCEMENT 2020. [DOI: 10.1007/s41465-020-00168-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
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Oman D, Bormann JE, Kane JJ. Mantram Repetition as a Portable Mindfulness Practice: Applications During the COVID-19 Pandemic. Mindfulness (N Y) 2020; 13:1418-1429. [PMID: 33224309 PMCID: PMC7667218 DOI: 10.1007/s12671-020-01545-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 10/27/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Objective Mantram or holy name repetition has long been practiced in every major religious tradition. Repetition of a mantram as a mindfulness practice is helpful for stress management and resilience building. The objective of this article is to provide an overview of the key features of mantram and the Mantram Repetition Program (MRP) developed in the US Veterans Healthcare System, the evidence base for the MRP, and its applications. Methods MRP practices are portable and do not require an extended or regularized period of sitting, in contrast to most methods of meditation. Core functions of MRP practices include focus shifting, frame activation, and fostering of mindfulness. We review scientific research, including multiple randomized trials, that has investigated the MRP. Results Research on the MRP has documented reductions in posttraumatic stress symptoms, insomnia, hyperarousal, and depression, as well as enhancement of quality of life, self-efficacy, and mindfulness. Mantram repetition may possess comparative advantages for managing symptoms of various mental health conditions, including posttraumatic stress disorder, HIV/AIDS, cancer, and chronic diseases. Conclusions MRP practices can be integrated into daily routines to manage stress and improve coping, safety, efficacy, calmness, and resilience. The inclusion of mantram repetition alongside conventional mindfulness-based practices for stress management will improve their cultural and religious inclusiveness, enabling societies and organizations to build greater collective resilience. Mantram repetition can be readily used in the COVID-19 pandemic, focusing on healthcare workers, patients, and the public.
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Affiliation(s)
- Doug Oman
- School of Public Health, University of California, 2121 Berkeley Way, Room #5302, Berkeley, CA 94720-7360 USA
| | - Jill E. Bormann
- Hahn School of Nursing and Health Sciences/Beyster Institute of Nursing Research, University of San Diego, 5998 Alcala Park, San Diego, CA 92110-2492 USA
| | - Jim J. Kane
- Department of Education, Development & Research, Hillcrest Medical Center, University of California, San Diego, 402 Dickinson St. Mail Code 8929, San Diego, CA 92103 USA
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Tang R, Braver TS. Predicting Individual Preferences in Mindfulness Techniques Using Personality Traits. Front Psychol 2020; 11:1163. [PMID: 32625133 PMCID: PMC7314956 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2020.01163] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2020] [Accepted: 05/05/2020] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
The growing popularity of mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) has prompted exciting scientific research investigating their beneficial effects on well-being and health. Most mindfulness programs are provided as multi-faceted packages encompassing a set of different mindfulness techniques, each with distinct focus and mechanisms. However, this approach overlooks potential individual differences, which may arise in response to practicing various mindfulness techniques. The present study investigated preferences for four prototypical mindfulness techniques [focused attention (FA), open monitoring (OM), loving-kindness (LK), and body scan (BS)] and identified factors that may contribute to individual differences in these preferences. Participants without prior mindfulness experiences were exposed to each technique through audio-guided instructions and were asked to rank their preferences at the end of all practices. Results indicated that preferences for loving-kindness were predicted by empathy, and that females tended to prefer loving-kindness more than males. Conversely, preferences for open monitoring were predicted by nonreactivity and nonjudgment of present moment experiences. Additionally, higher state mindfulness was detected for individuals’ preferred technique relative to other alternatives. These findings suggest that individuals tend to prefer techniques compatible with their personalities, as the predictor variables encompass trait capacities specifically relevant to practicing these techniques. Together, our results suggest the possibility that assessing individual difference and then tailoring MBIs to individual needs could be a useful way to improve intervention effectiveness and subsequent outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rongxiang Tang
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Washington University, St. Louis, MO, United States
| | - Todd S Braver
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Washington University, St. Louis, MO, United States
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Tang R, Braver TS. Towards an Individual Differences Perspective in Mindfulness Training Research: Theoretical and Empirical Considerations. Front Psychol 2020; 11:818. [PMID: 32508702 PMCID: PMC7248295 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2020.00818] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2020] [Accepted: 04/02/2020] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
A growing body of research indicates that mindfulness training can have beneficial effects on critical aspects of psychological well-being, cognitive function, and brain health. Although these benefits have been generalized to the population level, individual variability in observed effects of mindfulness training has not been systematically investigated. Research on other similar forms of psychological intervention demonstrates that individual differences are prominent in terms of intervention responsiveness and outcomes. Furthermore, individual characteristics such as personality traits have been shown to play a crucial role in influencing the effects of intervention. In light of these lines of evidence, we review representative work on individual differences in mindfulness training and advocate for an individual difference perspective in mindfulness training research. We discuss relevant empirical evidence of individual differences potentially influencing behavioral outcomes of mindfulness training, focusing on both cognitive function and psychological well-being. Finally, theoretical considerations and potentially fruitful research strategies and directions for studying individual differences in mindfulness training are discussed, including those involving cognitive neuroscience methods.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rongxiang Tang
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, United States
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Harne BP, Tahseen AA, Hiwale AS, Dhekekar RS. Survey on Om meditation: Its effects on the human body and Om meditation as a tool for stress management. PSYCHOLOGICAL THOUGHT 2019. [DOI: 10.5964/psyct.v12i1.275] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Meditation and yoga both have positive effects on physical, as well as mental health. Om mantra chanting, a simple and easy to practice, also comes under the aspect of meditation. The “Om” mantra is also considered as the very name of the absolute. Om meditation not only affects the various parts of the brain, such as pre-frontal cortex, vagus nerve, amygdala and others but also affects the heart rate and respiratory rate. Considering the healing effects of Om meditation, through this paper, we are trying to explore all the relevant work done in the field of Om meditation. The survey includes a large number of papers covering the research previously conducted by many researchers, their results and different techniques adopted to study the effect of Om meditation on human beings. Studies on Om meditation are categorized under four different heads: Neuroimaging studies, EEG studies, evoked potentials studies and other methods studies. Even though the existing research evidenced capability of Om meditation in curing anxiety and depression, more rigorous studies with better design, with larger sample size and with different control groups are required. Especially the need to explore untouched research areas of Loud Om meditation using EEG is suggested in the paper. Furthermore, future research directions are also suggested.
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Gao J, Leung HK, Wu BWY, Skouras S, Sik HH. The neurophysiological correlates of religious chanting. Sci Rep 2019; 9:4262. [PMID: 30862790 PMCID: PMC6414545 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-40200-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2018] [Accepted: 02/11/2019] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Despite extensive research on various types of meditation, research on the neural correlates of religious chanting is in a nascent stage. Using multi-modal electrophysiological and neuroimaging methods, we illustrate that during religious chanting, the posterior cingulate cortex shows the largest decrease in eigenvector centrality, potentially due to regional endogenous generation of delta oscillations. Our data show that these functional effects are not due to peripheral cardiac or respiratory activity, nor due to implicit language processing. Finally, we suggest that the neurophysiological correlates of religious chanting are likely different from those of meditation and prayer, and would possibly induce distinctive psychotherapeutic effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Junling Gao
- Buddhism and Science Research Lab, Centre of Buddhist Studies, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong
| | - Hang Kin Leung
- Buddhism and Science Research Lab, Centre of Buddhist Studies, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong
| | - Bonnie Wai Yan Wu
- Buddhism and Science Research Lab, Centre of Buddhist Studies, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong
| | - Stavros Skouras
- Department of Biological and Medical Psychology, Faculty of Psychology, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
| | - Hin Hung Sik
- Buddhism and Science Research Lab, Centre of Buddhist Studies, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong.
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Anderson T, Farb NAS. Personalising Practice Using Preferences for Meditation Anchor Modality. Front Psychol 2018; 9:2521. [PMID: 30618947 PMCID: PMC6298414 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2018.02521] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2018] [Accepted: 11/27/2018] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Many people are starting to establish contemplative practices and Mindfulness-Based Interventions have become quite popular. While Mindfulness-Based Interventions positively impact well-being, drop-out and lack of practice-maintenance plagues these interventions. Such adherence issues may reveal a lack of fit between participant partiality for attentional anchors of meditative practice and the intervention's use of the breath as the anchor of attention. No study had yet compared partiality towards practices using anchors from different sensory modalities (e.g., auditory and visual) thus the present study examined such individual differences, sharing resources on the Open Science Framework. Participants (N = 82) engaged 10-min practices within three modalities (somatosensory, auditory, and visual) and partiality towards these meditations was modelled. Partiality differences did exist: 49% preferred the breath, 30% the auditory-phrase, and 21% the visual-image. Pre-practice motivation and anchor-modality predicted partiality while cardiac responses were also positively associated with partiality. Preferences were updated through experience and over half of participants left the experiment partial to a different anchor than their initial meditation-naïve bias. Tangible next-steps are discussed, including integrating additional anchor modalities into existing interventions by offering brief practices with a variety of anchors. Suggestions are made for increasing post-training contact using email-automation to answer central practice-maintenance questions, including whether and which contemplative benefits are predicated on continued practice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas Anderson
- Department of Psychology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
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Oman D, Bormann JE. Eknath Easwaran’s Mantram and Passage Meditation as Applied Indian Psychology: Psycho-Spiritual and Health Effects. PSYCHOLOGICAL STUDIES 2018. [DOI: 10.1007/s12646-018-0448-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
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Torkamani F, Aghayousefi A, Alipour A, Nami M. Effects of Single-Session Group Mantra-meditation on Salivary Immunoglobulin A and Affective State: A Psychoneuroimmunology Viewpoint. Explore (NY) 2018; 14:114-121. [DOI: 10.1016/j.explore.2017.10.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2017] [Revised: 10/01/2017] [Accepted: 10/23/2017] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
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Burke A, Lam CN, Stussman B, Yang H. Prevalence and patterns of use of mantra, mindfulness and spiritual meditation among adults in the United States. BMC COMPLEMENTARY AND ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE 2017; 17:316. [PMID: 28619092 PMCID: PMC5472955 DOI: 10.1186/s12906-017-1827-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2016] [Accepted: 06/07/2017] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Despite a growing body of scientific literature exploring the nature of meditation there is limited information on the characteristics of individuals who use it. This is particularly true of comparative studies examining prevalence and predictors of use of various forms of meditation. METHODS A secondary analysis was conducted using data from the 2012 National Health Interview Survey (n = 34,525). Three popular forms of meditation were compared-mantra, mindfulness, and spiritual-to determine lifetime and 12-month use related to key sociodemographic, health behavior, health status, and healthcare access variables. RESULTS The 12-month prevalence for meditation practice was 3.1% for spiritual meditation, 1.9% for mindfulness meditation, and 1.6% for mantra meditation. This represents approximately 7.0, 4.3, and 3.6 million adults respectively. A comparison across the three meditation practices found many similarities in user characteristics, suggesting interest in meditation may be more related to the type of person meditating than to the type of practice selected. Across meditation styles use was more prevalent among respondents who were female, non-Hispanic White, college educated, physically active; who used other complementary health practices; and who reported depression. Higher utilization of conventional healthcare services was one of the strongest predictors of use of all three styles. In addition to similarities, important distinctions were observed. For example, spiritual meditation practice was more prevalent among former drinkers. This may reflect use of spiritual meditation practices in support of alcohol treatment and sobriety. Reasons for use of meditation were examined using the sample of respondents who practiced mindfulness meditation. Wellness and prevention (74%) was a more common reason than use to treat a specific health condition (30%). Common reasons for use included stress management (92%) and emotional well-being (91%), and to support other health behaviors. Meditation was viewed positively because it was self-care oriented (81%) and focused on the whole person (79%). CONCLUSION Meditation appears to provide an accessible, self-care resource that has potential value for mental health, behavioral self-regulation, and integrative medical care. Considering consumer preference for distinct types of meditation practices, understanding the underlying mechanisms, benefits, and applications of practice variations is important.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adam Burke
- Institute for Holistic Health Studies, Department of Health Education/HSS327, San Francisco State University, 1600 Holloway Avenue, San Francisco, California, 94132 USA
| | - Chun Nok Lam
- Department of Preventive Medicine, Health Behavior Research Program, University of Southern California, 2001 N Soto Street, Los Angeles, CA 90032 USA
| | - Barbara Stussman
- National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH), National Institutes of Health, 6707 Democracy Boulevard/Suite 401, Bethesda, MD 20892 USA
| | - Hui Yang
- Department of Computer Science, San Francisco State University, 1600 Holloway Avenue, San Francisco, California, 94132 USA
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Abstract
This article describes the various forms of meditation and provides an overview of research using these techniques for children, adolescents, and their families. The most researched techniques in children and adolescents are mindfulness-based stress reduction, mindfulness-based cognitive therapy, yoga meditation, transcendental meditation, mind-body techniques (meditation, relaxation), and body-mind techniques (yoga poses, tai chi movements). Current data are suggestive of a possible value of meditation and mindfulness techniques for treating symptomatic anxiety, depression, and pain in youth. Clinicians must be properly trained before using these techniques.
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Affiliation(s)
- Deborah R Simkin
- Attention, Memory and Cognition Center, 4641 Gulfstarr Drive, Suite 106, Destin, FL, USA; Committee on Integrative Medicine, American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry; Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA.
| | - Nancy B Black
- Committee on Integrative Medicine, American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry; National Capital Consortium, Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Fellowship, Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, Bethesda, MD 20889, USA
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