Psychoneuroimmunology of Meditation

Dipti Magan, Raj Kumar Yadav, Dipti Magan, Raj Kumar Yadav

Abstract

Background: Meditation is a conscious mental discipline, that has been implicated in the relaxation response. The mechanism behind such a relaxing effect is psychoneuroimmunology (PNI), based on the interaction between mind, physical health, and self-healing; that conceptualizes that stress and an individual's emotional state led to predisposition to diseases. Research to date suggests that meditation may play an active role in remodeling the imbalance between mind and body by modulating the psychoneuroimmunological effects of stress. However, to date, the multi-dimensional psychoneuroimmune aspects of meditation together have not been completely explicated. An evidence-based mechanism has been framed for the first time in India to explain the psychoneuroimmunology of regular and long-term meditation practice.

Summary: Present evidence-based mechanism confirms prefrontal cortex (PFC) acts as a 'Functional Connectome' where psycho-neuro-immune aspects of meditation function simultaneously to exert positive benefits in the regulation of cognitive and emotional behavior. Also, this mechanism will help us to understand how human augmentation with lifestyle modification fosters brain plasticity to overcome various neuropsychiatric illnesses.

Key message: Meditation is a scientific tool against neuro-psychiatric illnesses.

Keywords: Diseases; Evidence-based research; Health; Meditation; Psychoneuroimmunology; Stress.

Conflict of interest statement

The authors declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

© 2022 Indian Academy of Neurosciences (IAN).

Figures

Figure 1.. Schematic Framework of Psychoneuroimmunological Mechanism…
Figure 1.. Schematic Framework of Psychoneuroimmunological Mechanism of Long-Term Preksha Meditation. The Present Framework is Based on Scientific Evidence to Show Prefrontal Cortex (PFC) Acts as a “Functional Connectome” Where all the Components of Preksha Meditation that Including Attention Control, Emotional Regulation, and Altered Self-Awareness Function Simultaneously to Exert the Positive Benefits in the Maintenance of Neuropsychiatric Illnesses.

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