Evidence-based Complementary and Alternative Medicine
December 1, 2006
Alex Hankey
This article is the first of two comparing findings of studies of advanced practitioners of Tibetan Buddhist meditation in remote regions of the Himalayas, with established results on long-term practitioners of the Transcendental Meditation programs. Many parallel levels of improvement were found, in sensory acuity, perceptual style and cognitive function, indicating stabilization of aspects of...
Behavioral and Brain Sciences
December 1, 2006
Ilkka Pyysiäinen
Religionists often presuppose that “mysticism” aims at somehow emptying the mind. In the light of evidence, however, meditation seems rather to consist of ritualized action without an explicit emphasis on subjective experience. Boyer & Lienard's (B&L's) theory of ritualized action as “swamping” working memory thus might help explain the effects of meditation without postulating experiential...
Stress and Health
November 28, 2006
Michael J. Mackenzie, Linda E. Carlson, Marleny Munoz et al.
178 citations
Abstract Quantitative research has shown Mindfulness‐based Stress Reduction (MBSR) programmes can reduce mood disturbance, improve quality of life, and decrease stress symptoms of cancer patients. However, the range of subjective effects experienced by programme participants has not been clearly described. Nine cancer patients who had participated in an 8‐week MBSR programme through the Tom...
TheScientificWorldJournal
November 16, 2006
Vinod D. Deshmukh
Dhyana-Yoga is a Sanskrit word for the ancient discipline of meditation, as a means to Samadhi or enlightenment. Samadhi is a self-absorptive, adaptive state with realization of one's being in harmony with reality. It is unitive, undifferentiated, reality-consciousness, an essential being, which can only be experienced by spontaneous intuition and self-understanding. Modern neuroscience can...
Annals of Behavioral Medicine
November 15, 2006
Blaine Ditto, Marie Eclache, Natalie Goldman
357 citations
BACKGROUND: Recent research suggests that the Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction program has positive effects on health, but little is known about the immediate physiological effects of different components of the program. PURPOSE: To examine the short-term autonomic and cardiovascular effects of one of the techniques employed in mindfulness meditation training, a basic body scan meditation....
CNS Spectrums
November 1, 2006
The application of mindfulness-based cognitive interventions in the treatment of co-occurring addictive and mood disorders.
Epilepsy & Behavior
November 1, 2006
Ephraim Philip Lansky, Erik K St Louis
Transcendental Meditation (TM) is derived from ancient yogic teachings. Both short- and long-term physiological correlates of TM practice have been studied. EEG effects include increased alpha, theta, and gamma frequencies and increased coherence and synchrony. Neuronal hypersynchrony is also a cardinal feature of epilepsy, and subjective psychic symptoms, apnea, and myoclonic jerking are...
Journal of Humanistic Psychology
October 1, 2006
John Chambers Christopher, Suzanne E. Christopher, Tim Dunnagan et al.
Faculty in counseling training programs often give voice to the importance of self-care for students during the training period and into practice after training is completed. However, few programs specifically address this issue in their curricula. To address this perceived need, a course was developed to provide students with (a) personal growth opportunities through self-care practices and...
The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine
October 2006
Albert J Arias, Karen Steinberg, Alok Banga et al.
Meditative techniques are sought frequently by patients coping with medical and psychological problems. Because of their increasingly widespread appeal and use, and the potential for use as medical therapies, a concise and thorough review of the current state of scientific knowledge of these practices as medical interventions was conducted. To systematically review the evidence supporting...
Clinical cardiology
September 1, 2006
Satish Sivasankaran, Suzanne Pollard-Quintner, Rajesh Sachdeva et al.
Background: Chronic stress is estimated to increase the risk of cardiovascular (CV) events two-fold. Although stress reduction has been linked to a reduction in CV events, little is known regarding its exact mechanism of benefit. Hypothesis: Yoga and meditation will improve parameters of endothelial function. Methods: We examined the effects of yoga and meditation on hemodynamic and laboratory...