How Meditation Alters Gene Expression

Meditation is the most effective and easy way to alter the gene expression. The meditation techniques like mindfulness meditation, om meditation and vipassana meditation is closely related to change the gene expression.  Meditation can make our gene  turned “on” or turned “off”. Om meditation has several techniques that works in target specific gene expression. Genes … Read more

Neuroscience based well-being measurement indicators

In this article we discussed ten neuroscience based well-being measurement indicators. Neuroscience of well-being is not only limited to mindfulness meditation, it has progressed in many areas of well-being like exercise, office work load, school load, yoga, food, nutrition, financial fulfillment, social interaction and in many other ares. Science of well-being is an interdisciplinary science that collaborates with other fields such as medicine, neuroscience, neurobiology, physiology, chemistry, psychology, genetics, behavioral science, social science and economics. Gray matter volume, insula volume, and cortical thickness indicators are good for measuring the eudaimonic well-being. Activity in the default mode network (DMN), dopamine, serotonin, and norepinephrine are good for hedonic well-being.

Meditation Neuroscience and Transcendental Experience

Transcendental experience during yoga and meditation is well known for centuries. Here we discussed the safe and scientific process of transcendental experience. We also discussed neuroscience of transcendental experience during meditation. How to achieve transcendental experience? What are the risks in transcendental experience? Is it possible to transcend the limits of the material universe and entered into the realm of infinite? What are the brain dynamics and brain network connectivity during during transcendental experience? These are the few questions that I tried to explain in this article. True transcendental experience increases gray matter in the brain. It activates the prefrontal cortex—the newest part of the human brain. It creates many new pathways in the brain. The right insular cortex in the brain is activated by true transcendental experience. The insular cortex involved in compassion. moral decision making and pain control. The cortical thickness of the brain increases. Reduces the amyagdal activity in the brain.

Effect of Meditation on Cortical Thickness of the Brain

Scientific evidence suggests that meditation alters the functional and structural plasticity of the brain. In the milestone study, Sara Lazar, et al. in 2005, demonstrated that meditation increases the cortical thickness of the brain. Since then a large number of studies, mostly with varying sample sizes are conducted to identify the relationship between meditation techniques and development of cortical thickness in different brain areas. The results have been remarkably consistent. There is increasing evidence that the insula undergoes structural refinement through meditation. Meditation stops insular cortical thinning process. Insular cortical thinning occurs due to age and depression. In this article we focus on the impact of meditation on overall cortical thickness of the brain. Advancements in developmental biology, neuroscience, and medical imaging have brought us closer than ever to understand the effect of meditation on brain.

There are several meditation methods, such as Yoga, Om meditation, Zen, mindfulness, breathing awareness, and Samatha. Specially, Om chanting and meditation has several benefits. The chanting of Om improves the somatic relaxation and the meditation on the meaning of Om increase cognitive relaxation. Special cognitive relaxation of Om meditation and somatic relaxation of Om chanting improves the cortical characteristics of the brain. Moreover, the practice of Om improve immune competence, especially in older populations who often experience a loss of immune function. Om mantra stabilizes the fight-and-flight response of the amygdala. Which improves the gyrification and cerebral characteristics.