Frontiers in Human Neuroscience
February 26, 2014
Jian Xu, Alexandra Vik, Inge R Groote et al.
Nondirective meditation techniques are practiced with a relaxed focus of attention that permits spontaneously occurring thoughts, images, sensations, memories, and emotions to emerge and pass freely, without any expectation that mind wandering should abate. These techniques are thought to facilitate mental processing of emotional experiences, thereby contributing to wellness and stress...
European journal of preventive cardiology
August 2012
Anders Nesvold, Morten W Fagerland, Svend Davanger et al.
Meditation practices are in use for relaxation and stress reduction. Some studies indicate beneficial cardiovascular health effects of meditation. The effects on the autonomous nervous system seem to vary among techniques. The purpose of the present study was to identify autonomic nerve activity changes during nondirective meditation. Heart rate variability (HRV), blood pressure variability...
Perceptual and Motor Skills
August 1, 2010
Svend Davanger, Øyvind Ellingsen, Are Holen et al.
Some of the most popular meditation practices emphasize a relaxed focus of attention in which thoughts, images, sensations, and emotions may emerge and pass freely without actively controlling or pursuing them. Several recent studies show that meditation activates frontal brain areas associated with attention focusing and physical relaxation. The objective of the present study was to assess...
The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine
November 2009
Jim Lagopoulos, Jian Xu, Inge Rasmussen et al.
In recent years, there has been significant uptake of meditation and related relaxation techniques, as a means of alleviating stress and maintaining good health. Despite its popularity, little is known about the neural mechanisms by which meditation works, and there is a need for more rigorous investigations of the underlying neurobiology. Several electroencephalogram (EEG) studies have...