1. BIOLOGICAL BASES OF MEDITATION & YOGA
THERAPY
by: Innocence Branch
Image Credit:
http://mladzema.files.wordpress.com/2013/02/259958_226823254114725_1442061891_n.jpg

2. Biological Bases
of Behavior
Dr. Jamie L. Reed
Tennessee State University
Fall 2014

3. –Herbert Benson
“Meditation is a conscious mental process that induces a set of integrated
physiologic changes termed the “relaxation response”

4. Meditation & Yoga Benefits
"The relaxation response (from meditation & yoga)
helps decrease metabolism, lowers blood pressure,
and improves heart rate, breathing, and brain
waves,”(Herbert Benson, MD, 2014).
Heart Health: Regular practice has been shown to
significantly help high blood pressure over time.
Immune Booster: Meditation also helps ward off
illness and infections.

6. Your Brain on Meditation
Significant signal increases were
observed in the dorsolateral prefrontal
and parietal cortices,
hippocampus/parahippocampus,
temporal lobe, pregenual anterior
cingulate cortex, striatum, and pre-
and post-central gyri during meditation
indicating that meditation activates
neural structures involved in attention
and control of the autonomic nervous
system (Neuroreport, 2000 May
15;11(7):1581-5.)

7. Attenuation
Attention Association Area (AAA) in
the right hemisphere is activated
Eventually spreads to AAA in left
hemisphere
Deactivation of the surrounding areas
in the frontal lobes
Any burst of activity in these areas
indicates the presence of random
thoughts

8. Neurological Effects of
Meditation
Increase in GABA
Decreases stimuli arriving at frontal lobe
Enhances focus
Decreased activity in Orientation
Association Area (OAA) in right parietal
lobe
Right parietal lobe normally mediates our
sense of space
Decreased activity results in the meditation
of a felt sense of wholeness image credit:
http://www.meditation-mp3.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/brainparts.jpg

9. the Experience
The hippocampus:
• Conveys the emotional significance of the
experience
• Imprints long-term memory
• Activates the right lateral amygdala
The amygdala:
• Confers emotional significance to the lack
of incoming sensory information during
meditation
• Influences the hypothalamus

10. a Matter of Bio…
The ventromedial hypothalamus:
• Activates the parasympathetic nervous system
• Relaxation
• Bliss
• Profound quiescence
Activity eventually spills over from the right
hemisphere into the left hemisphere:
• Left and right parietal areas (OAA) are then
switched off
• Correlated with the dissolution of the self/non-
self boundary

11. Yin & Yang
Activity in the left hemisphere:
• Eventually activates the sympathetic nervous system
• Arousal
• Alertness
• Clarity
The resulting simultaneous activation of the parasympathetic (Yin) and sympathetic (Yang)
nervous systems mediates:
• Stability
• Equanimity
• Shamatha
• Spiritual experiences

12. PHYSIOLOGICAL
BENEFITS
Improved general health, posture, muscle tone,
sleep, immunity and pain tolerance
Weight normalizes
Stable autonomic nervous system
Increased cardio-respiratory efficiency,
musculoskeletal flexibility, range of joint
movement, physical endurance, strength and
energy levels
Decreased HR,BP,RR and EMG activity
Normalizes GIT and endocrine function

13. BIOCHEMICAL EFFECTS
BIOCHEMICAL
PROFILE IMPROVES
(INDICATING AN ANTI
STRESS & ANTI
OXIDANT EFFECT)-
IMPORTANT IN THE
PREVENTION OF
DEGENERATIVE
DISORDERS

14. Strike A Pose…
Many yoga poses are a
form of isometric
strengthening exercise,
(involving the contraction of
muscles without moving
the joints).
Isometric exercises- often
used in physical therapy for
the rehabilitation of injured
joints.

15. PSYCHOMOTOR
BENEFITS
Increased – Grip Strength, Dexterity, Fine Skills
Improved – Eye-hand Coordination – Reaction
Time – Depth Perception – Steadiness and
Balance – Integrated Functioning of Body Parts

16. BIOCHEMICAL CHANGES
AFTER YOGA PRACTICE
DECREASED: GLUCOSE, SODIUM,
CHOLESTEROL, TRIGLYCERIDES, LDL,
VLDL, CATECOLAMINES, WBC
INCREASED: HDL, ATP, HEMATOCRIT, Hb,
LYMPHOCYTES, THYROXIN ,VIT, C Sr
PROTEIN

17. Why Yoga is Good for
Health
Yoga helps to normalize all functions of our
digestive system such as ingestion, digestion,
absorption, assimilation and excretion.
Yoga reduces the effects of menopause’s
hormonal changes by balancing the endocrine
system.

18. In Summary…
prolonged yoga & meditation therapy:
Lowers stress & improves your general
mood
Boosts confidence
Lowers the risk of injury
Helps you lose weight
Increases flexibility
Improves muscle tone & strength
Benefits breathing & lowers blood
pressure
Improves posture

19. Credits
http://foodmatters.tv/images/boost_brain_power1.jpg
Hypothalamus image courtesy of Life Science
Databases.
http://nccam.nih.gov/health/meditation/overview.htm
Meditation quote credit: Herbert Benson, MD, 2014.
Neuroreport, 2000 May 15;11(7):1581-5.