presentation by prof katya rubia - the change within: sustainable effects ofsustainable effects of...
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The Development of Human Consciousness and Sustainable Global Health 11.05.2007http://www.gemini.de/global-health/index.php?target=expoforumdetails&item=49TRANSCRIPT
The change within: The change within: sustainable effects of sustainable effects of Meditation on healthMeditation on health
KatyaKatya RubiaRubia
What is Meditation?What is Meditation?! Meditation is a hypometabolic state that elicits physical & mental
calm through the reduction/elimination of thoughts.Thoughtless Awareness = state of higher (“pure”) consciousness (Nirvichara Samadhi; 4th state of consciousness)
" Relaxation of body & mind
" Pure consciousness, att. focus/alertness/perceptual clarity
" Positive emotions" Feelings of serenity, joy, bliss" Emotional detachment " Feelings of compassion
=> Stress relief
=> Concentration, reduced background mental noise
=> Mood stability=> Emotional resilience=> Social consciousness
Subjective EffectsSubjective Effects BenefitsBenefits
Objective effects of MeditationObjective effects of Meditation
Neurobiological correlates of the “state” of Meditation
Evidence for long-term sustainable “trait” effects
Clinical application: effects of Meditation on illness
What are the What are the neurobiological correlates of the neurobiological correlates of the
statestate of Meditation?of Meditation?
Neurobiology of Meditation StateNeurobiology of Meditation State
! Increased parasympathetic, reduced sympathetic activity! Changes in physiological parameters that indicate stress relief
! Decreased heart, respiratory, pulse rates, blood pressure, oxygen metabol.! Reduced cortisol (stress), noradrenaline (arousal)! Increase in immune response
Subjective: Feelings of deep calmness & relaxation
! Activation of fronto-parietal neuronetworks of internalised attention
Subjective: thought elimination, attentional focus, altered consciousness
! Activation of the fronto-limbic emotional neuronetworks! Increased activation in limbic brain regions & left frontal lobe! Release of neurochemicals that enhance positive emotions
(beta-endorphines, dopamine, melatonin and serotonin).
Subjective: feelings of joy, feeling of benevolence/compassion
PhysiologyPhysiology
NeurophysiologyNeurophysiology
N = 27
Aftanas & Golocheikine, 2001, 2002, 2003
1) Enhanced theta activity and coherence over fronto-parietal ( internalised attention)& left frontal regions (positive emotions). Enhanced alpha ( externalised attention)
2) Reduced overall complexity (less chaos)
Happiness Thoughts
Sahaja YogaSahaja Yoga
EEG correlates of thoughtless awarenessEEG correlates of thoughtless awareness
Connectivity
ChaoticComplexity
PET
Lou et al., 1999
Left frontal, temporal lobehippocampusN = 9
SPECT
Newberg et al., 2001
Thalamus
Buddhist Mantra MeditationYoga Yoga NidraNidra
Zen Buddhism
R frontalbasal ganglia
Ritzkes et al., 2003
fMRI
Abstract sense of joy
Concentration on breath
Concentration on mantra
N = 11
Kundalini YogaConcentration on breath/mantra
Lazar et al., 2000
Prefrontal, limbic, anterior cingulate,basal ganglia
Modern Modern neuroimagingneuroimaging studiesstudies
N = 5
N = 11
Dopamine increase (~65%) correlated with meditation-induced EEG changes
Kjaer et al., 2003
Increase in Dopamine release (~ 65%) in limbic area (ventral striatum)
0
50
100
150
200
Males Females
RestMeditation
N = 20, 14-60 years.
Increase in Beta-endorphin levels in blood
Mishra et al. 2000
*
ThetaYoga Yoga NidraNidraSahaja YogaSahaja Yoga
! Increase in Melatonin => sleep, pos emotions, immune s.! Increase in Serotonin => positive emotions! Decrease in Cortisol => Stress! Decrease in Noradrenaline (arousal)
HathaHatha YogaYoga
Harinath et al., 2000
NeurochemicalNeurochemical changeschanges
Meditation techniques differ, but the most consistent findings are
! Activation of fronto-parietal neural networks related to sustained internalised attention
! Activation of limbic and left frontal brain areas in relation to positive emotions
! Biochemical changes suggestive of positive affect
Conclusions on neurobiological effectsConclusions on neurobiological effects
What are the sustainable What are the sustainable longlong--term term traittrait effects?effects?
Do the state changes become trait changes with long-term practice?
CONTROLSCONTROLS
MEDITATORSMEDITATORS
8.0
Difficulties in identifying feelings
Diff. in emotion expression
7.8 4.8
0246810
Depression
0246810
Neuroticism Psychoticism
4.83.2 35.1
41.7
Trait anxiety
35.141.7
303336394245
123456
101214161820
81012141618
LongLong--term effects on personalityterm effects on personality
LongLong--term effects on cognitionterm effects on cognition! Perceptual processing (acuity)! Sustained attention! Motor & cognitive inhibitory control! Faster executive functions
LongLong--term effects on physiologyterm effects on physiology
! Reduced activation of autonomic system! Reduced endocrine response (cortisol)! Enhanced immune response! Enhanced melatonin & serotonin
Sahaja YogaSahaja Yoga
Aftanas & Golocheikine, 2005
LongLong--term effects on brain structureterm effects on brain structure
Lazar et al., NeuroReport, 2005
Greater cortical thickness in Meditators compared to Non-Meditators
Right prefrontal cortex(sustained attention)
Insula (interoceptive perception)
Meditation slows age-related thinning of prefrontal lobe => Meditation-dependent cortical plasticity.
N = 35 20 Meditators15 Controls
Buddhist insight Buddhist insight Meditation: cultivation Meditation: cultivation of mindful attention to of mindful attention to
present momentpresent moment
LongLong--term effects on rest brain functionterm effects on rest brain function
Aftanas & Golocheikine 2005
27 Meditators vscontrols during rest
theta & alpha! enhanced internalised/decreased externalised attention
Baseline EEG: Sahaja YogaSahaja Yoga
No hemispheric asymmetry over parietal regions(L > R)
Gamma (30-45!")
+0.04
-0.04
#lnP
EEG concomitants of stress (Power difference map)
I II III IV V VI VII VIII IX
Emotions: I – disgust, II – happy,
III – sadness, IV – anger,
V – fear,VI – anxiety,
VII – surprise, VIII – joy,
IX – contempt.
Subjective scores of discrete emotionelicited by movie clip
Autonomic concomitants of stress (Skin potential level reaction difference)
Movie clip ‘Stress’Movie clip ‘Stress’
LongLong--term effects on emotional reactivityterm effects on emotional reactivity
Rest Stress
0
0.3
0.6
0.9
1.2
meditatorscontrols
Sahaja YogaSahaja Yoga
Aftanas & Golocheikine 2005
LongLong--term effects on general healthterm effects on general health
0102030405060708090
GeneralHealth
Social F Mental H Physical H
Survey in 350 Sahaja Yoga Meditators in Australia
0
2
4
6
8
10
High distress very high distress
Norm Meditators
Manocha et al., 2007
**
****
2) Meditators score lower on measures of morbidity (Psychological Distress).
1) Meditators score higher on Australian General Health survey.
3) Frequency & depth of thoughtless awareness correlated with scores
Sahaja YogaSahaja Yoga
Meditation appears to have long-term effects on
! Personality
! Cognitive functions
! Brain structure & function
! Biochemistry
! General & mental health
Conclusions on longConclusions on long--term effectsterm effects
What is the clinical What is the clinical application of Meditation?application of Meditation?
# Neuropsychiatric disorders
# In 2020 depression is estimated to be the 2nd leading cause of disability worldwide (WHO).
# 90% of patients with remittent depression have somatic symptoms. 75% of these relapse after treatment.
# Suicide = 3rd leading cause for death worldwide.
# Teenage depression is escalating. Medication problematic in teenagers.
# Why Meditation? • Decreases anxiety & stress-related physiol. measures
– decreases cortisol levels (stress)
• Stabilisation of mood (enhances networks of positive emotions and “happy” neurochemicals (beta-endorphines, DA & SE))
• thought reduction counteracts rumination.
DepressionDepression
# Study design: 24 patients with depression, 27-53 yrs.# 3 groups: Sahaja Yoga Meditation, CBT, Control. 6 weeks.
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
Controls CBT Meditation
pre
post
*
Morgan et al. 2000
012345678
Controls CBT Meditation
pre
post
0
5
10
15
20
25
Controls CBT Meditation
pre
post
Anxiety (HAM-D)
Depression
*
*
General Mental Health
DepressionDepression
Sahaja YogaSahaja Yoga
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Attention Deficit Hyperactivity
Disorder (ADHD)Disorder (ADHD)
# ADHD is a disorder of inattention, impulsivity, and hyperactivity: poor self-control & poor attention focus
# Stimulant treatment of ADHD: unknown effects on developing brain, side-effects
# Why Meditation? • inner calm & relaxation ($hyperactivity)• self-control ($ impulsivity)• focussed internalised attention ($ inattention).• enhances fronto-parietal brain regions that are under-functioning
in ADHD
Effects on ADHD behaviourEffects on ADHD behaviour
# Study design: 26 children with ADHD, 4-12 yrs, twice weekly Meditation with parents for 6 weeks.
0
5
10
15
20
25
ADHD symptoms Self-esteem Parent-childrelationship
prepost
Harrison, Manocha, Rubia, 2004
22.5
14.5
22.6
14.7
0
5
10
15
20
25
Unmedicated Medicated
prepost
Sahaja YogaSahaja Yoga
**
* *
Stopped16%
Reduced40%
Same45%
Medication
AsthmaAsthma
Manocha et al., 2000Chugh et al., 1997
EpilepsyEpilepsy
! Sahaja Yoga and sham intervention on patients with epilepsy for 6 months
! Seizure reduction: 65% after 3months86% after 6 months
! Reduction of stress-related physiological changes (skin resistance, blood lactate, urinary mandelic acid)
! Overall increase in EEG frequency
! Improvement of visual acuity and corresponding EEG activity
Panjwani et al., 1995, 1996, 2000Gupta et al., 1997
! 30 Patients with Asthma (Sahaja Yoga) compared to 25 control patients (relaxation)
! Reduction of severity of asthma (air-way hyper-reactivity)
! Increase of subjective ratings of asthma-related quality of life
Sahaja YogaSahaja Yoga
Overview on clinical effectsOverview on clinical effects
# Depression & Anxiety (Sahaja Yoga, Mindful Meditation)
# Obsessive-compulsive disorder (Kundalini Yoga)
# ADHD (Sahaja Yoga)
# Epilepsy (Sahaja Yoga)
# Asthma (Sahaja Yoga, Pranayama)
# Menopause & PMS (Sahaja Yoga, Relaxation response)
# Drug abuse (Sahaja Yoga, Hatha Yoga)
# Occupational stress (Sahaja Yoga)
# Migraine
Meditation has shown positive effects on a range of disorders
• Meditation has short- & long-term effects on general & mental health, on personality and on cognition & affect.
• These changes appear to be mediated by measurable long-term plastic changes in underlying body & brain physiology & neurochemistry.
• Preliminary clinical applications show a positive effect of Meditation on a wide range of disorders
• Meditation has potential to play a prominent role in achieving sustainable global health.
Overall conclusionsOverall conclusions