Tantra or Yoga. Clinical Studies, Part 1: Yoga
Revista Científica Arbitrada de la Fundación MenteClara March 18, 2025 DOI: 10.32351/rca.v10.389 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Qualitative systematic review Longitudinal Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Topics | Buddhism Meditation |
| Keywords | Clinical studies Yoga Theravada Mahayana EEG Ecg FMRI Neuroimaging Neurophysiology Immunology Endocrinology |
| Key findings | Non-tantric meditations induce a hypometabolic state of deep rest with increased parasympathetic activity and specific endocrine changes. |
Abstract
Several clinical studies demonstrate how exercises from Vedic traditions, such as Yoga, or Theravada and Mahayana Buddhism, as well as tantric practices, have a significant psychobiological impact. This study seeks to identify the neurophysiological correlates of practices referred to as tantric and non-tantric meditations through a qualitative systematic review of collected data. First, the results of non-tantric meditations were verified, followed by the collection of data on tantric meditations. These were then compared, and the findings are presented in three parts. In this first part, it was found that non-tantric meditations create a better relaxation response with increased parasympathetic activity and inhibition of the sympathetic system. This induces a hypometabolic state of deep rest, where the practitioner remains awake and their attention is in a state of "tonic alertness," accompanied by symptoms corresponding to this hypometabolic state—hypotonia, decreased oxygen consumption, reduced heart rate, and lower blood lactate concentration. Additionally, there are changes in normal endocrine function, increased phenylalanine concentration in advanced meditators, elevated plasma prolactin levels, a five-fold increase in plasma arginine vasopressin levels, and a chronic and acute decrease in thyroid-stimulating hormone. This research paves the way for longitudinal clinical studies to confirm the long-term beneficial effects of these practices and to establish mechanisms to counteract the undesirable side effects presented here.
Comparable studies
Other systematic reviews and meta-analyses on buddhism, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zen Meditation: An Integration of Current Evidence | 2009 | Systematic review | |
| Wisdom-Based Buddhist-Derived Meditation Practices for Prosocial Behaviour: A Systematic Review Participants in mindfulness-based interventions incorporating Buddhist wisdom practices | 2024 | Systematic review | n = 2,185 |
| A systematic review and activation likelihood estimation meta-analysis of fMRI studies on arousing or wake-promoting effects in Buddhist meditation | 2023 | Systematic review and meta-analysis | |
| Effects of Buddhist Walking Meditation, Walking Meditation or Mindful Walking on the Health of Adults and Older Adults: A Systematic Review Adults and older adults | 2025 | Systematic review | |
| A meta-analysis on the effectiveness of Buddhist meditation intervention programs Participants in Buddhist meditation intervention studies from KCI-indexed or... | 2026 | Meta-analysis | n = 6,366 |