arXiv Preprint Archive
May 26, 2026
E. Pace, L. de Paolis, G. Felici et al.
Biophotons are ultra-weak photon emissions in the visible spectrum produced by living organisms. While extensively studied in plants, germinating seeds, and cell cultures, no systematic multi-method complexity analysis of human ultraweak photon emission (UPE) under physiological modulation has been reported. We address this gap by applying a comprehensive analytical framework to UPE...
Healthcare (Basel, Switzerland)
January 13, 2026
Rebecca Ciacchini, Alessandro Lazzarelli, Giorgia Papini et al.
Background/Objectives: The present exploratory study evaluates the feasibility and psychological effects of a structured Qigong intervention implemented in an Italian university setting. Qigong is a traditional Chinese mind-body practice combining gentle movements, breathwork, and mindful attention, aimed at enhancing mind-body integration and interoceptive awareness. Methods: A total of 332...
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
June 27, 2025
Rebecca Ciacchini, Silvia Villani, Mario Miniati et al.
College students are particularly vulnerable to psychological distress, including anxiety, depression, and chronic stress, often triggered by academic pressure, developmental challenges, and events such as the COVID-19 pandemic. This study examined the effectiveness and feasibility of a structured mindfulness-based program-Mindfulness Laboratory (MLAB)-delivered over three academic years to...
Behavioral sciences (Basel, Switzerland)
November 18, 2024
Alessandro Lazzarelli, Francesca Scafuto, Cristiano Crescentini et al.
30 citations
It is increasingly recognized that interoceptive ability, the capacity to detect, interpret, and consciously integrate signals related to the physiological condition of the body, is central to emotion experience and regulation. Interoceptive ability can be trained and improved through mind-body interventions. This article attempts to provide an integrative review of the link between...
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
November 13, 2024
Rebecca Ciacchini, Ciro Conversano, Graziella Orrù et al.
5 citations
Chronic pain (CP) affects about 30% of the global population and poses significant challenges to individuals and healthcare systems worldwide. The interactions between physiological, psychological, and social factors are crucial in the onset and development of CP conditions. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of mindfulness-based intervention, examining its impact on perceived...
Frontiers in Psychology
May 2, 2024
Bruno Neri, A. Callara, Nicola Vanello et al.
The positive effects of meditation on human wellbeing are indisputable, ranging from emotion regulation improvement to stress reduction and present-moment awareness enhancement. Changes in brain activity regulate and support these phenomena. However, the heterogeneity of meditation practices and their cultural background, as well as their poor categorization limit the generalization of results...
Clinical neuropsychiatry
October 1, 2023
Mario Miniati, Graziella Orrù, Mery Paroli et al.
7 citations
To investigate mindfulness traits/attitudes as protective factors against chronic pain related distress, depression and anxiety. Fifty patients (25 with chronic non-oncologic pain-NOP; 25 with chronic oncologic pain-COP) were administered with the following scales: Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), Pain Disability Index (PDI), Italian Questionnaire for Pain (QUID), Perceived Stress Scale (PSS),...
Frontiers in Systems Neuroscience
March 21, 2022
Andrea Zaccaro, Andrea Piarulli, Lorenza Melosini et al.
32 citations
The modulatory effect of nasal respiration on integrative brain functions and hence consciousness has recently been unambiguously demonstrated. This effect is sustained by the olfactory epithelium mechanical sensitivity complemented by the existence of massive projections between the olfactory bulb and the prefrontal cortex. However, studies on slow nasal breathing (SNB) in the context of...
bioRxiv Preprint Server
March 21, 2022
Danilo Menicucci, Valentina Cesari, Enrico Cipriani et al.
preprint
The fragmented sleep, fragmented mind hypothesis has associated sleep disturbances and dissociative states in subjects with dissociative traits, as supported by neurophysiological theories of consciousness stating that altered states might result from an altered functional interaction among brain modules due to inefficient sleep processes.
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
November 1, 2021
Andrea Poli, Angelo Gemignani, F. Soldani et al.
21 citations
Baseline respiratory sinus arrhythmia (RSA) has been proposed as a transdiagnostic biomarker of stress vulnerability across psychopathologies, and a reliable association between PTSD, OCD and lower resting RSA was found. Contemplative practices have been linked to the activation of the vagus as well as to an increased RSA that, according to the polyvagal theory, reflects the activation of the...
International Journal of Yoga Therapy
2021
Andrea Zaccaro, André Riehl, Andrea Piarulli et al.
13 citations
Nidrâ yoga is an ancient yogic practice capable of inducing altered states of consciousness characterized by deep relaxation, strong concentration, acute self-awareness, and joy. In modern contemplative neuroscience language, it is known by the name yoga nidra, and few studies have investigated its phenomenological and psychophysiological effects. Six healthy volunteers (four females aged...
Frontiers in Psychology
September 1, 2020
Ciro Conversano, M. di Giuseppe, M. Miccoli et al.
Objective Mindfulness disposition is associated with various psychological factors and prevents emotional distress in chronic diseases. In the present study, we analyzed the key role of mindfulness dispositions in protecting the individual against psychological distress consequent to COVID-19 social distancing and quarantining. Methods An online survey was launched on March 13, 2020, with 6,412...
Frontiers in Psychology
July 31, 2020
Ciro Conversano, Rebecca Ciacchini, Graziella Orrù et al.
Health care professionals (HCPs) are a population at risk for high levels of burnout and compassion fatigue. The aim of the present systematic review was to give an overview on recent literature about mindfulness and compassion characteristics of HCPs, while exploring the effectiveness of techniques, involving the two aspects, such as MBSR or mindfulness intervention and compassion...
Scientific Reports
April 26, 2018
Andrea Piarulli, Andrea Zaccaro, Marco Laurino et al.
The coupling between respiration and neural activity within olfactory areas and hippocampus has recently been unambiguously demonstrated, its neurophysiological basis sustained by the well-assessed mechanical sensitivity of the olfactory epithelium. We herein hypothesize that this coupling reverberates to the whole brain, possibly modulating the subject's behavior and state of consciousness....
Brain Research Bulletin
June 30, 2004
Laura Palagini, Angelo Gemignani, Irwin Feinberg et al.
Despite the common misconception that rapid eye movement (REM) sleep is a unique correlate of dreaming, reports of mental activity can be elicited after awakenings from any stage of nocturnal sleep. We extended the investigation to naps and tried to explore the relationship between recall length and level of sleep stage and depth preceding the awakening. We hypothesized that dream report length...