THE ART & SCIENCE

OF
MEDITATION

Dr Sudhir Shah
MD DM Neurology

Professor of Neurology – K.M.School of PGMR

Head, Department of Neurology – VSGH, AHD
Director of Neurosciences – Sterling Hospital
Consultant Neurologist - Ahmedabad, INDIA

India 3rd Jan 2010

Why Meditation ?
• We exist in two forms : body and mind.
: exercise.. (essay)

• At some stage you realize that peace and

happiness are not outside.

• The cause of miseries : thoughts, aspirations,

past & present and attitude

• The quest for the god.

• All great people have done meditation.

 What is meditation
• Exercise of mind to keep it healthy
and clean, as we do for body.

• A state of altered consciousness.

• Fourth stage of consciousness.

• Spiritual ecstasy with neurological

manifestation.

• Not really a Hallucination.

• Caution.
 Spiritualit
y
Meditation

Philosophy
Devotion
Karmayoga
Charity
Character
RELIGION
Morality
Rituals
 What is meditation? Definitions

• Stability of mind
• Wavering of mind is stopped
• Concentration on one target
• Unified thought process
• Thoughtlessness
• Introspection
• Lack of activity
• To leave, to give away
• Mental aerobics
• Intentional self regulation
• Patanjali
• Dedication
• Buddha
• Stay connected
• Narad
 What is meditation? Definitions

Definition : Thinking deeply or spiritually

about a subject

It is a complex cognitive task

It is more than relaxation, concentration,

contemplation or posturing

Frees the mind from distractions and allows

for communication with the “Master Within”

The ultimate goal is ILLUMINATION :

ENLIGHTENMENT
 Meditation : advantages

• Physical, mental and emotional health.

• Cure / control of psychosomatic disorders including
high blood pressure, coronary artery disease, DM,
asthma, rheumatism etc.

• Stress relief.
• Spiritual health.
• Better concentration and sharpness.
• Produces relaxation and reduces reactivity.
• Improves Job performance.
• Interpersonal relations.
 Meditation : advantages

• Brings change of attitude

• Inner peace, patience and happiness.

• Cultivates and promotes positive emotions and removes

negative thoughts.

• Helps in controlling anger and conquering fear.

• Brings control over thought process.

• Improves quality of life.

• Intuitive knowledge, healing power, magnetic personality

and occult powers.
 Meditation is an antidote to stress

• The neuro chemistry and neuro physiology

of meditation is just the reverse of
stress. Stress : Over
activity of Sympathetic system.

• Meditation: Over activity of

Parasympathetic system.
 Caution
• However, it is not a push button system, you need
patience. Hence there is a 90 to 95% -drop out
rate. You need to have right guide, right method,
correct understanding, appropriate place, constant
practice, extreme faith and full conviction.

• Please do not sleep.

• Meditation industry is at height, because of

commercialization, so one should be careful.

• Not to make comparisons, All systems are great

• Meditation is hard work. It demands
the highest form of discipline which
comes through constant awareness,
not only of the things about you
outwardly, but also inwardly.

- J. Krishnamurti
 The Real Purpose Of Meditation

• Elimination of Ego

• Elimination of Mind
 MEDITATION :
PHILOSOPHICAL PURPOSE

• Philosophical self realization

• God realization

• Total bliss (total relief of pain)

• Total liberation
 Meditation techniques
• Focus on Breathing
• Focus on an object, light
• Focus on a sound
• Focus on a thought
• Focus on sensual object
• Focus on sensory
perception

• Imagery
• Soul meditation
 Meditation Practice
• Choosing a place and atmosphere
• Sitting Posture
• Time of meditation
• Importance of Consistent Practice
• 4 purities : Mouth, Body, Place & Clothes
• Mental attitude –
“bare attention,” or neutral witness

• Pure moment-to-moment awareness, or mindfulness

Non-judgmental inner listening, equanimity

-WARMING UP-

• Prayer
• Pranayama……… internet connection……... Broadband
 Meditation : methods
 Patanjal Dhyana  Kayotsarga
 Anapan Sati  Tratak
 Smriti Upasthan  Suryasamyam
 Vipashyana  Adarshdhyana (mirror)
 Preksha Dhyana  Swaminarayan Dhyana
 Jain Dhyana  Arup Dhyana
 Spand Dhyana  Purnayoga Dhyana
  Atit Dhyana (past)
Mantra Dhyana
 Bhavidhyana (future)
 Nabhi Dhyana  Sarpalanchan Dhyana
 Swapna Dhyana  Samarpana Dhyana
 Nidra Dhyana  Tathata
 Yoga nidra, Nyas  Hoo-Dhyana (Dynamic
 Kriya Yoga Meditation)
 Mrutyu Dhyana  Sahaj Dhyana
 T.S Meditation  Your own system
 Kundalini
All methods are great
 PATANJAL RAJ YOGA
• Yama : Nonviolence, truth, non-stealing
celibacy and aparigriha
(Non-collectiveness)

• Niyama : Purity, Penance (Austerity)

Satisfaction
Spiritual learning
Worship & dedication
• Asana :

• Pranayama :

• Pratyaahar :

• Dharna :

• Dhyana :

• Samadhi :
 Meditation over an
object, place or thought
Chakra, Flame or Photo with
eyes open or closed
 Basic Instructions for Meditation
Anapan Sati

• To bring the attention to the breath, but not to

control the breathing. It is not pranayama.

• Give full attention to the feeling of the breath as it

goes in and out.

• Dwell in the present, moment by moment, breath by

breath.

• Observe your mind with moment-to-moment

awareness.
 Basic Instructions for Meditation

• When attention wanders, note it and then gently bring

awareness back to the breath.

• Why breathing ? Truth, vital, secular, always with you,

present tense, carrier of mind – Emotions, thoughts, and
perversions

• Continue to watch the breath, accepting each moment as

it is for 1 hour. Not to loose single breath

- The power of ‘NOW’

- The concept of ‘VOID’

• When breathing takes consciousness into each cell, there

is a vital dance
 Meditation-Techniques
• Smriti Upasthan : Observation & awareness of thoughts
Budhha, Krishnamurti
Avoid conflict with mind
The root cause of miseries is thoughts
Study beginning, end, structure &
content of thoughts. Pl. do not criticize
Observe & know your thoughts
Study movement of mind and feel separated

This will lead to detachment with thoughts

Becoming aware of one’s consciousness
Observer will realize that himself is being
observed

• Purnayoga : Maharishi Aurobindo’s

method of combination Yoga

Empty your thoughts & know your mind
 Meditation
Jaindhyana
• Jain
Jain religion
religion is
is Bhavadharma,
Bhavadharma, so
so meditation
meditation is
is
of
of utmost
utmost importance.
importance.
• Dharmadhyana
Dharmadhyana & & shukladhyana…
shukladhyana…
excellent
excellent remedy
remedy for
for all
all types
types of
of health.
health.
• Several
Several types
types of
of meditations.
meditations.

• Samayik
Samayik &
& kayotsarga
kayotsarga are
are super
super meditations.
meditations.

• Preksha,
Preksha, vipashyana,
vipashyana, granthibheda
granthibheda

• Atmadhyana.
Atmadhyana.
 Atmadhyana

• Meditating on the soul is one of the best meditations.

• To remain constantly aware of the soul and its

characteristics and its functions. To dissociate soul
from the body at every moment and the sentinence –
the application of knowledge is the ultimate
meditation.

• Samayam api ma pamayae GOYAMA !

 Meditation-Techniques

• Prekshadhyana : To see –To observe ( Jain Method-Lord Mahavir)

Acharya Tulsiji – Acharya Mahapragyaji

• Breathing (Shwas-Preksha)
• Thoughts (Vichar-Preksha)
• Body (Sharir-Preksha)
• Mind (Anupreksha)
• Leshyadhyana etc.

Prerequisites : Mitahaar, Mitbhashan, Maitri,

Pratikriya - Shunyakriya, Bhavkriya

Truth, Non-violence, non-stealing, celibacy and non-collectiveness

 Meditation-Techniques
• Vipashyana : To see –To observe ( Buddha)
Goenkaji through mahasi sayado

Breathing : control of emotions & perversions

Thoughts : detachment from thoughts

Body and perception of sensations :

control of Raga and Dwesha
 Vipashyana
Operation of the mind, by the mind

• Calm and quiet mind

• Awake and attentive mind

• Equanimous mind
 The Sound of Om in a Drop of Oil
CHANTING MEDITATION
"Since all things are made by the

 
power of sound, of vibration, so
can we create this world by the
same power. The knowledge of
                              sound is supreme, for it is
beyond all form. By the
knowledge of sound we obtain
the knowledge of creation, And
the mastery of that knowledge
helps us to rise to the formless.
This knowledge acts as our
wings, helping us to rise from
the earth to heaven and
penetrate through life seen and
unseen."
-- Pir Hazrat Inayat Khan
To do chanting on mantra, its meaning and vibration
 Effect of sound chanting
Mr. Emoto decided to see how thoughts and words affected
the formation of untreated, distilled water crystals by
typing words onto paper and then taping them on glass
bottles overnight.

                                                                                                

These are effects of the These are the effects of

words “Love and “You make me sick. I will
Appreciation” kill you!”
A Yantra is a graphic
representation of the sound of
Mantra
Mr. Emoto decided to see what effects music had upon
the structure of water. He placed distilled water
between two speakers for several hours while playing
music and then photographed the crystals that formed
after the water was frozen. The results of the effects of
these two very different types of music speak for
themselves.

                                           
                                                

This is the effect of This is the effects of

Bach’s “Air for the G Heavy Metal Music
String”
 Mindfulness Practice

• Observing the body and mind intentionally

Letting experiences unfold from moment to moment and
accepting them as they are.

• Observing thoughts without getting caught up in them.

No effort to control anything except the focus and direction of
the attention. Not a passive process, yet does not involve
trying to get anywhere.

• Eating meditation, sitting meditation, working meditation and

meditation during each act is the goal of mindfulness practice.
Rule No. 1
• Wherever there is body, mind should also be there
without any exception

Rule No. 2
• Develop wakeful plain observorship
(Sakshibhav or Drushtabhav)
Rule No. 3
• Know your soul with your own soul.
 Transcendental
Meditation (TM)

• Movement
founded by
Maharshi Mahesh
Yogi of India.
T.S.MEDITATION
Sri Sri Ravishankarji

• Sudarshan kriya

• Art of living course

has changed
thousands of lives
SILENCE / CONTEMPLATION

In the silence of the heart God

speaks

Let God fill us, then only we

speak.

Do small things with great love.

The fruit of silence…..is
Prayer
The fruit of Prayer….. is
Faith
The fruit of Faith……..is love
The fruit of Love …….is
Service

- Mother
Teresa
 DHYANA YOGA

• Perfect
relaxation

• Observorship

• Non Decisiveness

Dynamic
Meditation
Purnayoga

Aspiration

Rejection

Surrender
 Meditation : methods
 Patanjal Dhyana  Kayotsarga
 Anapan Sati  Tratak
 Smriti Upasthan  Suryasamyam
 Vipashyana  Adarshdhyana (mirror)
 Preksha Dhyana  Swaminarayan Dhyana
 Jain Dhyana  Arup Dhyana
 Spand Dhyana  Purnayoga Dhyana
  Atit Dhyana (past)
Mantra Dhyana
 Bhavidhyana (future)
 Nabhi Dhyana  Sarpalanchan Dhyana
 Swapna Dhyana  Samarpana Dhyana
 Nidra Dhyana  Tathata
 Yoga nidra, Nyas  Hoo-Dhyana (Dynamic
 Kriya Yoga Meditation)
 Mrutyu Dhyana  Sahaj Dhyana
 T.S Meditation  Your own system
 Kundalini
All methods are great
Swapnadhyana

Nidradhyana

Yognidra

Nyasa
irst Practice Silence of body, speech and learn to get isolated
Then, chanting, seeing an idol, inner flame, breathing etc.
Benefits of meditation

– Oxygen consumption is reduced by 16%,

even greater than the reduction of 12% in
sleep

– Neural structures that are intimately

related to the control of the autonomic
nervous system are activated

– Diurnal, cyclic secretion of stress hormones

(adrenocorticotrophic hormone, cortisol
and beta-endorphin) is absent
 STATISTICS

• Physicians, Psychotherapists, and other

Professionals are increasingly adding
Meditative Techniques to their practice.

• Over six thousand Physicians have begun

the practice of Transcendental Meditation
and regularly recommend the TM
technique to their patients.

• Many Physicians consider Meditation a key

element of an Integrated Health Program.
 Health Conditions in which
Yoga may help heal or treat
• Arthritis • PMS and Menstrual
• Allergies Discomfort
• Asthma • Menopause
• Hypertension
• Pain of the Back, Hips,
• Coronary Artery Knees
Disease
• Irritable Bowel • Depression & Anxiety
Syndrome • Substance Abuse
• Heartburn (GERD) • Skin Disorders
• Constipation • Chronic Fatigue
• Tension Headaches and Syndrome
Migraines
• Overweight
• Sleep Problems
 Medical benefits of meditation
Researching the Benefits of  on Meditation :

• With 7 weeks of meditation, cancer patients decreased their degree of

depression, anxiety, anger, confusion, and chest and stomach
symptoms by 50% - and felt more vigor.

• With 10 weeks of meditation, 2/3’s of chronic pain patients had a 30%

reduction in pain, and half had more than a 50% reduction.

• With 10 weeks of meditation, chronic pain patients had less pain, less
mood disturbances, used less pain medication, and could be more
active.  The benefits were still present one year later.

• Three years after an 8-week meditation instruction, patients with

anxiety and panic disorders still showed a benefit.

• All patients with fibromyalgia who meditated for 10 weeks improved,

and over half showed moderate to marked improvement in pain,
fatigue and quality of sleep.
 Medical benefits of meditation
Meditation has been found to be quite useful in most of the psychosomatic disorders including asthma, rheumatism, gut
• problems, blood pressure, diabetes etc.

With 6 weeks of meditation irritable bowel syndrome patients had less flatulance, belching, bloating and diarrhea.
•

Even though daily fluctuations in cortisol are unchanged, people who meditate don’t have the daily fluctuations in the cortisol-
• stimulating hormone (ACTH), or beta-endorphins, suggesting a change in feedback sensitivity.

People trained in and performing an imagery-based relaxation prior to injection, had less inflammatory reaction to chili pepper
• “extract” (capsaicin) injected under the skin.  

With 6 months of meditation, athletes had less increase in the CD8+ suppressor T cell response to strenuous physical stress,
• improving the immune system’s helper to suppressor cell ratio.  It also reduces post-traumatic stress.   
 Medical benefits of meditation

• Patients who meditated during ultraviolet light treatment for psoriasis

had quicker clearing of their skin disease.    

• With 6 months of meditating for 20 minutes twice a day, hypertensive

African Americans had a decrease in the carotid artery wall thickness.

• With 4 years of daily meditation, coronary artery narrowing showed

regression rather than progression.

• Over a 5 year period, people who meditated had over 50% less doctor’s
office visits, and an average of  50% less hospital admissions (including a
reduction all 17 major treatment categories such as benign and
malignant tumors, heart disease, infectious disease, and nervous system
disorders).  Only childbirth rates were the unchanged.
Relative contraindications of meditation

• Psychosis
• Severe depression
• Confusional states
• Extreme anxiety
• Dementias
 Physiology of Meditation

• Meditation produces a specific physiological response pattern

that involves various biological systems.

• Mechanisms producing meditative effects include metabolic,

autonomic, endocrine, neurological, and psychological
manifestation.

• Physiological response to meditation occurs on a

multidimensional, interactive basis.
Neuro Electrical Changes During
Meditation
BETA: Alert/Working
14-20 waves per second

ALPHA: Relaxed/Reflecting
8-13 waves per second

THETA: Drowsy/Meditating
4-7 waves per second

DELTA: Sleep/Dreaming
3-4 waves per second

DELTA: Deep & Dreamless

Sleep .5-2 waves per sec
 Neuroelectrical Effects

 Mediation (the Fourth State) was shown to

- increase Alpha (8-13 Hz or cycles per second)
production
- increase Theta (4-7 Hz) production
- increase high Beta (20 - 40 Hz) activity ( with experienced
meditators).

 Alpha patterns are associated with calm and focused attention.

 Theta patterns are associated with reverie, imagery, and

creativity.

 High Beta activity is associated with highly focused

concentration
 Important features of EEG
changes
related to meditation are :
Establishing alpha activity in spite of open eyes

• Increased amplitude of alpha activity

• Slower frequency of alpha rhythm
• Rhythmical theta waves
• Increased synchronization (hypersynchronization)
• Dissociation of perception from the external sense organs
• Transcendent signal
• Occasional fast wave activity
Decrease in Beta-wave activity after meditation
ALPHA brainwaves are the brainwaves of relaxed
detached awareness, visualization, sensory imagery
and light reverie. Ranging between about 8 cycles per
second and 13 cycles per second, alpha is the gateway
to meditation and provides a bridge between the
conscious and the subconscious mind.
BETA brainwaves are the fastest frequencies ranging
from 14 cycles per second up to 38 cycles per second.
Beta is your normal thinking state, your active external
awareness and thought process. Without beta you would
not be able to function in the outside world.
THETA brainwaves are the subconscious mind. Ranging
from about 4 cycles per second up to 8 cycles per
second, theta is present in dreaming sleep and
provides the experience of deep meditation when you
meditate. Theta also contains the storehouse of
creative inspiration and is where you often have your
spiritual connection. Theta provides the peak in the
The MEDITATION brainwave pattern is a
combination of alpha and theta where theta
provides the depth and profundity of the
meditation experience – the subconscious inner
space from which creativity, insight, and healing
spring – and alpha provides the bridge, or the link,
to the conscious thinking mind so that you can
actually remember the contents of your
DELTA brainwaves are your unconscious mind, the
sleep state, ranging from about 4 cycles per second
down to 0.5 cycles per second. But when present in
combination with other waves in a waking state, Delta
acts as a form of radar – seeking out information –
reaching out to understand on the deepest
unconscious level things that we can't understand
through thought process. Delta provides intuition,
empathetic attunement, and instinctual insight.
AWAKENED MIND brainwave pattern

It is a brainwave pattern shared by people in higher

states of consciousness regardless of their
philosophy, theology or meditation technique. This
brainwave pattern can be found during “peak
experience” and in all forms of creativity and high
performance
 Permanent EEG changes
Davidson’s research is consistent with his
earlier work that pinpointed the left
prefrontal cortex as a brain region
associated with happiness and positive
thoughts and emotions. Using functional
magnetic resonance imagining (fMRI) on
the meditating monks, Davidson found that
their brain activity – as measured by the
EEG – was especially high in this area

With chronic meditation, gamma wave

activity(high level information processing)
is found in many meditators
Evoked potentials & meditation

Meditation sometimes produces

altered amplitudes, with practitioners
seeming to demonstrate decreased
amplitude & latency for sensory EPs &
with mindfulness inducing a decrease
in habituation
• In meditation the usual frameworks of
time, space and other aspects of
conscious content are absent, although
the mind is not asleep

• Compared to quiet or slow-wave sleep, in

which brain blood flow is reduced,
meditation shows no reduction in total
brain blood circulation or perfusion

• Regional maps of brain blood

flow/perfusion differ among meditation,
slow-wave sleep and wakefulness
 Neurobiology of Meditation

 Imaging, such as rCBF (regional Cerebral Blood Flow), real

time MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging), MEG
(magnetoencephalography), and improved EEG
(electoencephalography) allow detailed studies in
understanding the effects of meditation on neural
behavior.

 SPECT study shows- Parietal area of the brain is responsible

for giving us a sense of our orientation in space and time.
By blocking all sensory and cognitive input into this area,
meditation results in the sense of no space and no time.
 cms
DYNAMIC BRAIN MAPPING
spatial resolution

meg -eeg

fmri pet

seeg

neurons
ms minutes
temporal resolution
ANDREW NEWBERG
SPECT Images at Baseline and
During Meditation

Prefrontal Cortex Prefrontal Cortex

Baseline Meditation
SPECT Images at Baseline and
During Meditation
Baseline Meditation

Superior Superior
Parietal Lobe Parietal Lobe
 Comparison of Baseline
to Prayer : Limbic
inhibition
Baseline Scan Prayer Scan

LIMBIC LIMBIC
 Results from Meditation SPECT Study
Part of the Brain P- Baseline Meditati Percent SD
value Mean on Change
Mean
Anterior 0.0074 1.25 1.34 7.2 0.08
Cingulate
Cingulate Body 0.0001 0.91 1.14 25.3 0.13

DLPFC 0.0001 1.31 1.45 10.7 0.08

Inferior Frontal 0.0025 1.25 1.36 8.8 0.09

Midbrain 0.0166 1.16 1.29 11.2 0.14

Orbital Frontal 0.0075 0.97 1.22 25.8 0.24

Cortex

Posterior 0.0114 1.19 1.29 8.4 0.09

Cingulate
Sensorimotor 0.0017 1.19 1.26 5.9 0.06

Thalamus 0.0114 1.40 1.60 14.3 0.21

 Summary of SPECT findings

 Increase rCBF in frontal lobe and shut

down of rCBF in OAA in parietal lobe is
the key finding.

 This is not hallucination.

 All Meditators have same findings.

fMRI changes
during
Meditation
 Results
• Significant signal increases were observed in the
dorsolateral prefrontal and parietal cortices,
thalamus, hippocampus/parahippocampus,
temporal lobe, pregenual anterior cingulate cortex,
striatum, and pre- and post-central gyri during
meditation.

• This indicates that the practice of meditation

activates neural structures involved in attention
and control of the autonomic nervous system.

– Neuroreport. 2000 May 15;11(7):1581-5. Functional brain

mapping of the relaxation response and meditation. Lazar
SW,…, Benson H.
 fMRI changes during Meditation

• PET, SPECT & fMRI allow examination of

changes in regional blood flow,
metabolism or receptor (sites of
neurochemical and drug actions)
activation in the brain in response to
various tasks

• Most types of meditation, which involve an

initial focusing of attention, are associated
with increased regional blood flow or
glucose metabolism in the prefrontal and
cingulate cortex, areas that are important
in selection of a mental task
• The frontal lobes, especially the
prefrontal regions help to organize,
prioritize, plan and focus attention

• During visualization regional blood flow

increases in the “visual cortex” and
visual association areas in the occipital
lobes

• In contemplation of “self” the parietal

lobes on both sides are activated
visual imagery
meditation on weight of body
abstract perception of joy
symbolic representation of the
Thalamus & Hippocampus in meditation
• Thalamus is a relay station and filtering
station for sensory information. Excitation of
RN through PFC, decreases activation of PSPL
& thereby decreases body awareness & also
decreases input to visual centre (GABA)

• The studies point to prefrontal activation

(predominantly right), transient
hypofrontality, increased frontal lobe &
decreased parietal lobe activity & also to a
Deafferentation of the PSPL

• Functional Deafferentation means a decrease

in distracting stimuli to visual cortex & PSPL,
hence, increase focus

• This results in altered perception of self-

experience
• Activity in Hippocampus is increased in
connections with hypothalamus &
autonomic nervous system

• Stimulation of Right amygdala causes

stimulation of ventromedial
hypothalamus & peripheral
parasympathetic system, thereby
causing subjective sensation of
relaxation & more profound sense of
quiescence
• Herzog, et al., 1990 – PET, Yoga meditation
• Jevning, et al., 1996 – Rheoencephalography, TM
meditation
• Lou, et al., 1999 – PET, Yoga Nidra
• Lazar, et al., 2000 – fMRI, Kundalini Yoga
• Khushu, et al., 2000 – fMRI, Raja Yoga
• Baerensten, et al., 2001 – fMRI Onset of meditation
• Newberg, et al., 2001 – SPECT, Tibetan meditation
• Azari, et al., 2001 – PET, Psalm 23 recitation
• Kjaer, et al., 2002 – PET 11C-raclopride binding, Yoga
Nidra
• Newberg, et al., 2003 – SPECT, Franciscan Prayer
• Lazar, et al., 2003 – fMRI, Mindfulness vs. Kundalini
• Ritskes, et al., 2003 – fMRI, Zen
• Lazar, et al., 2005 – MRI, Buddhist Insight Meditation
• Kakigi, et al., 2005 – fMRI, Noxious LASER stimulation of
a Yoga master who claims to feel no pain during
meditation
• Orme-Johnson, et al., 2006 – fMRI, TM effects on brain
reactivity to pain
 Neurochemical Changes During Meditation

 Meditation increases Serotonin production, an

important neurotransmitter and neuropeptide
that influences mood and behavior in many
ways. It can stimulate increased production of
Acetylcholine, involved in memory
mechanisms & attention

 Meditation has also been associated with

increased melatonin availability
 Neurochemical changes during
meditation

• During meditation, locus ceruleus

activity decreases, thereby decreasing
norepinephrine production

• Relatively greater activity of

parasympathetic system causes
decreased production of catecholamines,
epinephrine & norepinephrine by adrenal
medulla
 
Neurochemical Changes During Meditation

Neurochemical Observed Change CNS Structure

Arginine Vasopressin Increased Supraoptic Nucleus

GABA Increased Thalamus, other

inhibitory structures
Melatonin Increased Pineal Gland

Serotonin Increased Dorsal Raphe

Dopamine Increased Basal Gangia

Cortisol Decreased Paraventricular

Nucleus
Norepinephrine Decreased Locus Ceruleus
 

β-Endorphin Rhythm changed; Arcuate Nucleus

levels unaltered
 Meditation and the
Autonomic Nervous System

• An increase in the skin resistance.

• Galvanic skin responses, showed that meditators recovered from

stress more quickly than non-meditators.

• Decreased limbic arousal in the brain-reduces stress and increases

autonomic stability to stress.

• Reduction in limbic arousal may explain how meditation

strengthens and enhances the ability to cope with stress.
 Meditation and the
Central Nervous System

 The practice of meditation decreases muscle reflex time.

 Accelerates neural conduction or augments the release of

neurotransmitters, thereby decreasing synaptic time,
resulting in a change in muscle firing threshold and pattern.

 By inhibiting the left cortical hemisphere, the sense of time

and logic no longer dominate consciousness during
meditation.Suppression of Ego faculty and later on Mind.
 The Plausible Hypothesis

• When meditation acts as a constant repetitive stimulus, certain

permanent qualitative and quantitative changes develop in
nervous system.

• Neurotransmitters and neuromodulators may stimulate growth

of dormant neurons to develop a centre higher than neocortex-
God module.

• This higher centre will exert inhibitory control over present

neocortex and thereby over mind as a whole- thereby
suppressing consciousness and all mental activities.

• Spiritual ascent is from the least evolved state of consciousness

to near perfect state with which the mind itself will cease to be
and there will remain only non-dual experience.
 Meditation and the Endocrine System

• Reduced blood levels of lactate, cortisol, and epinephrine.

• Reduces sympathetic adrenergic receptor sensitivity, producing a

decreased response to stressful situations .

• Increased levels of gamma aminobutyric acid (GABA), melatonin

and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate.

• Meditation produces its anxiolytic effects by promoting GABA

action in specific areas of the brain.

• Similar effects can be achieved by Reiki, Acupuncture.

 Meditation and Metabolism

• A wakeful state accompanied by decreased metabolism.

• Decreased breathing pattern, decreased heart rate, and decreased blood

pressure.

• Blood flow to the kidneys and liver declined in the practitioners, with an
increase in cardiac output.

• Decrease in the level of oxygen utilization and carbon dioxide elimination by

muscles.

• The metabolic changes arise from a natural reduction in metabolic activity

at the cellular level, not from a forced reduction of breathing.

• Longevity and delayed aging !

 Meditation & Neuroplasticity

• A recent MRI study showed that, “brain

regions associated with attention,
interoception & sensory processing like
the PFC & right anterior insula were
thicker in meditation practitioners”

• Meditation probably offsets age-related

cortical thinning & thereby suggesting
to promote Neuroplasticity
 Meditation and Psychology

• Practice of meditation improves cognitive task

performance, increases mental concentration, and
reduces susceptibility to stress.

• Both subjective and objective examinations reveal

that meditation enhances perceptual sensitivity.
Meditation and Psychology

• It improves the attitude & personality of a

person
• Improved concentration and attention,
allowing for greater productivity, problem-
solving, creativity, learning ability and
organization of memory.
• Enhanced self-image
• Less “catastrophic reaction” to stressful
situations, e.g., in survivors of attempted
suicide
• Better sociability, tolerance and
compassion
• Improved mood, sleep & scores on self-
actualization
 Attitude
• “ The Longer I live, the more I realize the impact of attitude on life.
Attitude to me, is more important than facts. It is more important
than the past, than education, successes, than what other people
think or say or do. It is more important than appearance, giftedness
or skill. It will make or break a company…….. a church…. a home.
The remarkable thing is we have a choice every day regarding the
attitude we will embrace for that day. We can not change our
past..... we cannot change the fact that people will act in a certain
way. We cannot change the inevitable. The only thing we can do is
to play on the only string we have, and that is our attitude……. I am
convinced that life is 10% what happens to me and 90% how I react
to it. And so it is with you….. We are in charge of our Attitudes ”.
- Charles Swindoll
Neural correlates of anxiety

• Factors decreasing anxiety during meditation :

– Increased parasympathetic acitivity, GABAergic
drive, serotonin, endorphins & AVP
– Decreased LC firing with decreased noradrenaline
& decreased levels of stress hormone cortisol

Depression

• Factors contributing antidepressant effect :

– Increase in serotonin, dopamine, melatonin,
endorphin & AVP
– Decrease in CRH & cortisol
Psychosis

• A variety of schizophrenic effects can be seen

• Meditation can induce psychotic states via

mechanisms such as :
– Increased 5HT 2 receptor activation, leading to
inhibition of LGB
– Increased DMT, causing hallucinogenic effects
– Increase in NAAG, having dissociative
hallucinogenic effects
– Increase in dopamine affecting temporal lobe
Implications for Psychiatry

• Complementary & alternative medicine

• ? Alternative to Hypnosis
• Low cost, with continuation for life
• Group dynamics & group practice
• Combination e.g. Mindfulness-Based Cognitive
Behavior Therapy or Spiritually Augmented CBT
• Enhancing one’s psychological
resources/holistic living/self actualization
• Meditative state changes may develop into
traits
• Preventive Psychiatry
Unresolved issues – New Frontiers

• Although we can understand how the various lobes

and neurotransmitters function during meditation,
how are these actions directed and by whom?

• What accounts for the actual awareness of the

experience and of self and where are they perceived?

• How do we actually know that something is true and

meaningful? What accounts for this conviction?

• The link with the Master Within and with Cosmic

Consciousness has not been explained and cannot be
approached from a neuroscience perspective
 Four way Truth

• That there is a problem

• That there is a cause
• That there is a way
• If you follow the path, you will get the solution
“Now Monks, I have nothing more to
tell you but all that is composed
will decay. Strive after your own
Salvation.”
-Lord Buddha
 WAIT AND MEDITATE,

TILL I CALL YOU BACK

- Swami
Vivekananda
 REFERENCES
• Jain Agam
• Dhyana Dipika, Dhyana Shatak
• Patanjal Yoga Sutra
• Holy Vedas, Puranas and Upanishadas
• Tripitak
• Dhyana Yoga - Swami Vivekananda
• Meditation - Osho
• Dhyana Kumbh - Suresh Vakil
• Meditations - J.Krishnamurti
• ‘Why God will not go away’ – Andrew Newberg
• Medical References from several journals
 REFERENCES
• Aries et al;2006, Systematic review of efficacy of meditation
techniques, Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine

• Cahn B.R., Polich J.,(2006), Meditation states and traits:EEG,ERP

and neuroimaging studies, Psychol Bull,(2005),Meditation
experience is associated with increased cortical
thickness,Neuroreport

• Mohandas E.,(2008) Neurobiology of spirituality, Mens Sena

Monograph.

• Newberg A.B.(2003),The neural basis of the complex mental task

of meditation:neurotransmitter and neurochemical
consideration,Med Hypotheses.

• U.S.Department of Health(2007) Meditation Practices for

Health:state of the Reasearch