Traumatic stress, neural self and the spiritual mind.
Consciousness and Cognition November 1, 2016 DOI: 10.1016/j.concog.2016.09.008 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Review Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Topics | Meditation PTSD |
| Keywords | Dissociation Self Spiritual experience Stress |
| Key findings | There is no widely accepted evidence about specific neural mechanisms of mental integration linked to spiritual experiences and meditation, but growing evidence indicates these experiences relate to brain physiology and morphology changes, emphasizing the role of mental integration in psychiatric therapy. |
Abstract
According to recent findings stressful experiences may influence various physiological disturbances and also neuroanatomical changes and some studies also show that psychotherapy and meditation may influence brain functions. Traumatic stress is frequently related to a dissociative response that disintegrates conscious experience. In this context, self-reflection is an essential principle in the process of posttraumatic growth related to spiritual experiences and meditation states that enable mental integration and create the novel integrated self. According to recent findings there is no widely accepted evidence about specific neural mechanisms of processes related to mental integration linked to the spiritual experiences and meditation. Nevertheless there is growing evidence that these integrative experiences are related to various alterations in the brain's physiology and morphology. These findings provide a new paradigm for understanding of mental disorders and emphasize the fundamental role of mental integration and integrated self in the therapy of psychiatric disorders.