Rajyoga meditation induces grey matter volume changes in regions that process reward and happiness

Babu, M. G. Ramesh; Kadavigere, Rajagopal; Prakashini, K; Sathian, Brijesh; Kiranmai, S.

doi:10.1038/s41598-020-73221-x

Cited by 25 publications

(15 citation statements)

References 85 publications

(102 reference statements)

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“…Intriguingly, the larger grey matter volume, evidenced from magnetic resonance imaging, in long-term mediators is linked to the improved cognitive, emotional, and attention control [ 174 ]. Mounting evidence shed light on the benefits of different yoga and meditation techniques on the cognition, emotional balance, attention control, reward, and happiness which is correlated to increased grey matter volume [ 174 , 175 , 176 , 177 , 178 ]. Indeed, the loss of dendritic spines is positively correlated to decrease in grey matter volume in stressful conditions in mice [ 179 ].…”

Section: Non-therapeutic Modulators Of Dendritic Spinesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Impact of Pharmacological and Non-Pharmacological Modulators on Dendritic Spines Structure and Functions in Brain

Mahalakshmi

Ray

Tuladhar

et al. 2021

Cells

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Dendritic spines are small, thin, hair-like protrusions found on the dendritic processes of neurons. They serve as independent compartments providing large amplitudes of Ca2+ signals to achieve synaptic plasticity, provide sites for newer synapses, facilitate learning and memory. One of the common and severe complication of neurodegenerative disease is cognitive impairment, which is said to be closely associated with spine pathologies viz., decreased in spine density, spine length, spine volume, spine size etc. Many treatments targeting neurological diseases have shown to improve the spine structure and distribution. However, concise data on the various modulators of dendritic spines are imperative and a need of the hour. Hence, in this review we made an attempt to consolidate the effects of various pharmacological (cholinergic, glutamatergic, GABAergic, serotonergic, adrenergic, and dopaminergic agents) and non-pharmacological modulators (dietary interventions, enriched environment, yoga and meditation) on dendritic spines structure and functions. These data suggest that both the pharmacological and non-pharmacological modulators produced significant improvement in dendritic spine structure and functions and in turn reversing the pathologies underlying neurodegeneration. Intriguingly, the non-pharmacological approaches have shown to improve intellectual performances both in preclinical and clinical platforms, but still more technology-based evidence needs to be studied. Thus, we conclude that a combination of pharmacological and non-pharmacological intervention may restore cognitive performance synergistically via improving dendritic spine number and functions in various neurological disorders.

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Section: Non-therapeutic Modulators Of Dendritic Spinesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Impact of Pharmacological and Non-Pharmacological Modulators on Dendritic Spines Structure and Functions in Brain

Mahalakshmi

Ray

Tuladhar

et al. 2021

Cells

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“…In healthy population raja yoga meditators were found to have greater positivity and happiness than matched controls [28] . A recent study has also shown grey matter volume changes in happiness related areas in raja yoga meditators [2] . However, if the same will hold true (Brahma Kumaris Raja yoga meditation as a preventive tool) in the context of uncertainties like the COVID 19 pandemic needs to be further studied in controlled trials.…”

Section: Discussion and Future Recommendationsmentioning

confidence: 83%

Stress and the impact of stressful events are lesser among raja yoga meditators – A cross sectional study during COVID-19 pandemic from India

et al. 2022

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“…As one of the cortical executive regions, the aPFC plays an essential role in pain appraisal [45]. Structurally, previous studies reported that chronic pain led to gray matter loss [46][47][48][49], whereas meditation increased gray matter volume in the aPFC region [50]. Functionally, studies have found greater aPFC activation with meditation practice [51].…”

Section: Principal Findingsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Brain Mechanisms of Virtual Reality Breathing Versus Traditional Mindful Breathing in Pain Modulation: Observational Functional Near-infrared Spectroscopy Study

Hu¹,

Beard²,

Sherbel³

et al. 2021

J Med Internet Res

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Background Pain is a complex experience that involves sensory-discriminative and cognitive-emotional neuronal processes. It has long been known across cultures that pain can be relieved by mindful breathing (MB). There is a common assumption that MB exerts its analgesic effect through interoception. Interoception refers to consciously refocusing the mind’s attention to the physical sensation of internal organ function. Objective In this study, we dissect the cortical analgesic processes by imaging the brains of healthy subjects exposed to traditional MB (TMB) and compare them with another group for which we augmented MB to an outside sensory experience via virtual reality breathing (VRB). Methods The VRB protocol involved in-house–developed virtual reality 3D lungs that synchronized with the participants’ breathing cycles in real time, providing them with an immersive visual-auditory exteroception of their breathing. Results We found that both breathing interventions led to a significant increase in pain thresholds after week-long practices, as measured by a thermal quantitative sensory test. However, the underlying analgesic brain mechanisms were opposite, as revealed by functional near-infrared spectroscopy data. In the TMB practice, the anterior prefrontal cortex uniquely modulated the premotor cortex. This increased its functional connection with the primary somatosensory cortex (S1), thereby facilitating the S1-based sensory-interoceptive processing of breathing but inhibiting its other role in sensory-discriminative pain processing. In contrast, virtual reality induced an immersive 3D exteroception with augmented visual-auditory cortical activations, which diminished the functional connection with the S1 and consequently weakened the pain processing function of the S1. Conclusions In summary, our study suggested two analgesic neuromechanisms of VRB and TMB practices—exteroception and interoception—that distinctively modulated the S1 processing of the ascending noxious inputs. This is in line with the concept of dualism (Yin and Yang).

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Rajyoga meditation induces grey matter volume changes in regions that process reward and happiness

Cited by 25 publications

References 85 publications

Impact of Pharmacological and Non-Pharmacological Modulators on Dendritic Spines Structure and Functions in Brain

Impact of Pharmacological and Non-Pharmacological Modulators on Dendritic Spines Structure and Functions in Brain

Stress and the impact of stressful events are lesser among raja yoga meditators – A cross sectional study during COVID-19 pandemic from India

Brain Mechanisms of Virtual Reality Breathing Versus Traditional Mindful Breathing in Pain Modulation: Observational Functional Near-infrared Spectroscopy Study

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