During yoga nidra, a practice that aims for deep relaxation with heightened awareness, experienced meditators show reduced connectivity within the default mode network (DMN) compared to novices, as measured by fMRI. This decoupling of DMN regions was not present during ordinary resting states before or after the practice. The degree of reduced DMN connectivity correlated with the participants' cumulative hours of meditation and yoga experience. The findings suggest that yoga nidra produces a distinct neural state in experienced practitioners, supporting their subjective experience of being restful yet aware, and offer insight into the neural mechanisms underlying the practice.
An online survey of 136 Indian adults (75.7% male, 44.1% homosexual) found that 33.8% had engaged in chemsex—using substances to initiate, facilitate, improve, or prolong sexual experiences, excluding alcohol, tobacco, or cannabis. Methamphetamine ("Meth," "Yaba," or "Ice") was the most common substance, followed by MDMA, poppers, and cocaine. Among those reporting chemsex, 45.7% also engaged in slamsex (injection drug use during sex). About two-thirds said their partners also used drugs. The primary motivation was enhancing sexual pleasure. Adverse effects included memory gaps and fear or anxiety. Chemsex was more common among participants with more sexual partners, group sex, HIV-positive status, STIs, or PrEP use. The findings suggest risk mitigation strategies may be needed for this population.