The Influence of Buddhist Meditation Traditions on the Autonomic System and Attention
BioMed Research International 2015 DOI: 10.1155/2015/731579 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Review Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Topics | Buddhism Meditation |
| Citations | 73 |
| Key findings | The authors argue that meditation traditions differ physiologically: Vajrayana and Hindu Tantric practices are linked to heightened sympathetic activation and phasic alertness, while Theravada and Mahayana practices are linked to heightened parasympathetic activity and tonic alertness. They contend these patterns match Buddhist scriptural descriptions and highlight the importance of each practice's cultural and philosophical context. |
Abstract
Cognitive and neuroscience research from the past several years has shed new light on the influences that meditative traditions have on the meditation practice. Here we review new evidence that shows that types of meditation that developed out of certain traditions such as Vajrayana and Hindu Tantric lead to heightened sympathetic activation and phasic alertness, while types of meditation from other traditions such as Theravada and Mahayana elicit heightened parasympathetic activity and tonic alertness. Such findings validate Buddhist scriptural descriptions of heightened arousal during Vajrayana practices and a calm and alert state of mind during Theravada and Mahayana types of meditation and demonstrate the importance of the cultural and philosophical context out of which the meditation practices develop.
Comparable studies
Other narrative reviews on buddhism, most cited first.
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|---|---|---|---|
| Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction, Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy, and Zen Meditation for Depression, Anxiety, Pain, and Psychological Distress | 2012 | Review | |
| Measuring mindfulness | 2011 | Review | |
| Seeking the Sacred with Psychoactive Substances | 2014 | Review | |
| Positive Psychology and Buddhism | 2023 | Review | |
| A COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW ON THE CORRELATION BETWEEN BUDDHISM AND PSYCHOLOGY | 2024 | Review |
Citations in the library
Cited by 28
- Content-Free Awareness: EEG-fcMRI Correlates of Consciousness as Such in an Expert Meditator Frontiers in Psychology February 18, 2020
- Nondual Awareness and Minimal Phenomenal Experience. Frontiers in Psychology 2020
- Common and distinct lateralised patterns of neural coupling during focused attention, open monitoring and loving kindness meditation Scientific Reports 2020
- Intrinsic neural timescales exhibit different lengths in distinct meditation techniques. Neuroimage August 15, 2024
- Unbalanced Flows in the Subtle Body: Tibetan Understandings of Psychiatric Illness and How to Deal With It Journal of Religion and Health February 20, 2019
and 23 more in the library
Cites 46
- A default mode of brain function Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences January 16, 2001
- Mindfulness training as a clinical intervention: A conceptual and empirical review. Clinical Psychology Science and Practice 2003
- Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction for Stress Management in Healthy People: A Review and Meta-Analysis The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine May 1, 2009
- Meditation experience is associated with differences in default mode network activity and connectivity Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences November 23, 2011
- Attending to the present: mindfulness meditation reveals distinct neural modes of self-reference Social Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience August 13, 2007
and 41 more in the library