Brain Behavior and Immunity Integrative
November 30, 2023
Otto Muzik, Timothy Mann, John J. Kopchick et al.
3 citations
A six-week Wim Hof method intervention—combining deep breathing, cold exposure, and meditation—increased cannabinoid type 1 (CB1) receptor binding by about 20% across the brain in four male participants. The largest increases occurred in regions linked to interoception, including the anterior cingulate, orbitofrontal cortex, anterior insular cortex, and brainstem. After the intervention, during a whole-body cold-stress test, participants showed greater activation in the anterior insula and orbitofrontal cortex, areas tied to interoceptive and executive functions. These findings suggest that the Wim Hof method may positively influence brain markers associated with stress resistance, mood, anxiety, and interoceptive awareness.
Brain Behavior and Immunity Integrative
September 14, 2024
Bianca Castro Dos Santos, Ana Kéren Gomes Reis, Ricardo Aparecido Baptista Nucci et al.
1 citation
Neuropathic pain, a chronic condition often accompanied by depression, is difficult to treat with conventional medications. Ayahuasca, a psychedelic brew from Amazonian plants, shows promise for modulating pain. Preclinical studies and fMRI analyses suggest it reduces activity in the default mode network, which is linked to depression, and activates serotonin and sigma-1 receptors while modulating immune responses, including glial cells and the midbrain periaqueductal gray. These actions may address both pain and mood disturbances. However, rigorous research is needed to establish its efficacy, safety, mechanisms, and long-term effects.
Brain Behavior and Immunity Integrative
April 1, 2024
Lindsey Garfield, Natalie N Watson-Singleton, Herbert L Mathews et al.
A culturally adapted virtual mindfulness program, Mindfulness for African Americans Postpartum (MAAP), is being tested in a pilot randomized controlled trial with African American women within 12 months of giving birth. The intervention adapts Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction to include spirituality, interdependence, self-empowerment, and storytelling, and is delivered via Zoom by a certified instructor. The primary aim is to reduce psycho-behavioral symptoms such as perceived stress, depressive symptoms, anxiety, poor sleep, posttraumatic stress, and fatigue, and to improve mother-infant bonding. A secondary aim explores effects on proinflammatory cytokines and oxytocin. The protocol addresses time constraints and parenting challenges to make mindfulness more accessible for this higher-risk population.
Brain Behavior and Immunity Integrative
September 1, 2023
Quinn A Conklin, Cavan E. Patterson, Brandon G King et al.
Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), a protein involved in learning and neuroplasticity, was measured in experienced meditators before and during a month-long silent retreat. Participants with higher BDNF levels at the start of the retreat showed greater increases in telomere length over three weeks. However, BDNF levels did not change on average during the retreat, and higher BDNF was linked to lower telomerase activity. The findings suggest that a person's baseline BDNF, rather than changes induced by meditation, may influence cellular aging markers.