Yoga is a therapeutic practice renowned for its multifaceted benefits across the body's systems. Its positive impact spans the physical, mental and emotional realms, fostering harmony and well-being. Through a combination of postures, breathing techniques and meditation, yoga offers profound effects, enhancing flexibility, strength and balance while simultaneously promoting relaxation and...
Despite major progress in our understanding of the brain, the connection of neural and mental features, that is, brain and mind, remains yet elusive. In our 2020 target paper ("Is temporospatial dynamics the 'common currency' of brain and mind? Spatiotemporal Neuroscience") we proposed the "Common currency hypothesis": temporo-spatial dynamics are shared by neural and mental features, providing...
A mindfulness-based intervention (MBI) focused on listening to music might reduce chronic pain and provide a new approach to overcoming challenges from traditional MBIs (e.g., breathing). Due to the potential unpredictability and unfamiliarity of jazz, an MBI focused on listening to improvisational jazz music might be a particularly efficacious pain reduction intervention. This pilot study...
CureusMarch 1, 2025Spyridon Sotiropoulos, Theodora Plavoukou, George Georgoudis1 citation
Chronic nonspecific low back pain (CNSLBP) is a leading cause of disability worldwide. Exercise-based interventions, particularly strengthening exercises, are widely used in rehabilitation. However, mind-body approaches such as Qigong, which integrate movement, breath control, and mindfulness, may offer additional psychological benefits. Despite evidence supporting Qigong in pain management,...
Novel antidepressive substances are challenging the explanations for the mechanisms of action of traditional psychopharmacology. What could be the shared effects of various antidepressants and in this context what role do extrapharmacological factors, such as the body and environment, play? The available literature on clinical and preclinical data for assumed combined active factors of...
Abstract Anhedonia is a transdiagnostic domain that leads to poor disorder outcome and low remission rates. This narrative review describes a broad range of interventions targeting anhedonia, including pharmacological, neuromodulatory, behavioral, and lifestyle‐based approaches. Drugs such as vortioxetine, agomelatine, bupropion, ketamine, and brexpiprazole show promising anti‐anhedonic...
Shamanistic figures play pivotal roles in cultures across the globe as spiritual healers, divinators, or fortune tellers. In Indonesia, shamanistic figures are represented by dukuns who are understood as shamans who possess supernatural abilities to heal or help with other problems. However, new-age spiritualism and its practices such as tarot reading and meditation have affected how...
Amanasikāra, the opposite of manasikāra (mentation, attention), is a significant concept in the history of the development of Buddhist practices. This paper primarily focuses on a concise work titled Amanasikārādhāra (the locus of non-mentation) composed by Advayavajra (also known as Matreyanātha or Maitrīpa in Tibet), who flourished in the 11th century. This text offers valuable insights into...
Sri Aurobindo, a philosopher, mystic, and poet, holds a significant place in Indo-English literature for his unique synthesis of spiritual philosophy and creative expression. His works embody a deep mysticism that permeates his poetry, critical writings, and philosophical discourses. This research paper explores the mystical elements reflected in Sri Aurobindo’s creative and critical works,...
This paper analyzes why people are willing to believe occultism practice such as tarot from a psychological perspective. From four different angles, this work not only analyzes the principle behind the possible operation of tarot cards, but also explores human psychology of tarot cards. The final conclusions can be divided into different schools. According to Jung’s collective unconscious...