Hormonal control in a state of decreased activation: Potentiation of arginine vasopressin secretion

Abstract

PHYSIOL BEHAV 35(4) 591-595, 1985 --Behaviorally induced stress is associated with increased arginme vasopressln (AVP) secretion. In this report we describe a phasic conditioned response of AVP secretion yielding 2.6--7.1 times normal plasma concentration of this hormone m assocmtlon w~th a physmlog~cal state of decreased activation, that associated with the mental technique of "transcendental meditation" (TM) in long-term practltmners (6-8 years of regular elicitation) Such a very large phastc response of AVP was previously unknown m the normal physmlogy of AVP. This elevation was not accompanied by elevatmn of plasma osmolality. Unstyllzed ordinary eyes closed rest in a separate group of subjects studied in the same manner was associated with normal plasma AVP concentration. Galvanic skin resistance (GSR) increased dunng both TM and rest with significantly larger increase assocmted with TM. Other measures of activation, including muscle metabolism, and the Spielberger Anxiety Inventory indicated marked relaxatmn in associatmn with TM. In previous research it has been shown that blood pressure does not change acutely dunng th~s behavmr. These observations in&cate that neither stress nor operatmn of other usual homeostatic control mechamsms are responsible for elevated for AVP in the meditators. It is speculated that the apparently unique mechanism of TM-mduced AVP secretion may be more specifically related to the behavmral effects of meditatmn. [5,7,8] and, more specifially, the acquisition and retention of adaptive behavior patterns [4,8]. Additional reported effects of AVP in humans suggest psychotherapeutic and behavior-modifying properties [9,34] as well as improvement of attentional processes [ 1]. Implicit in many of these reports is the notion that naturally occurring modification of existing, or acquisition of new behavior patterns may be facilitated by an increase of endogenous AVP activity centrally and/or peripherally. However, except for states of stress, potentiation of AVP secretion associated with behavior modification or adaptation has not been demonstrated. The purpose of the present study was to determine if long-term, regular practice of the technique of "transcendental meditation" (TM), reported to induce numerous behavioral changes [10,12,16,22,28], may be associated with altered secretion of AVP. This behavior, elicited twice daily in the morning and evening for 20--40 minute periods by the regular practitioner, is associated with major physiologic changes in long-term subjects [17][18][19]. Hormones METHODTwelve subjects, six long-term meditation practitioners (5-10 year instructors of TM) and six non-meditating individuals ("ordinary rest" group), were studied. All subjects were normal, university educated individuals and did not use tobacco, alcohol or regular medication. Their ages ranged 1Requests for reprints should be addressed to R. Jevning, Departments of Medicine and Physiology, University of Califorma, Irvine, Irvme, CA 92717. The additional point for the TM group represent...

Modulation of red cell metabolism by states of decreased activation: Comparison between states

“…The TM subjects of these investigations are longterm practitioners. Whereas the results of early research studying only whole body respiratory change were consistent with physiologic similarity of TM and rest, more recent measurements---specifically on TM subjects who have now been eliciting this behavior for 5-10 years---indicate development of other fundamentally different hormonal, circulatory, and electrophysiologic changes [7,[11][12][13][14]18] in this group. Since participation of a humoral agent(s) in the TMinduced decline of red cell glycolysis is likely [12], it is possible that repeated elicitation or some special feature of this behavior is necessary for elaboration of the responsible effector.…”

“…Finally, the temporal patterns of plasma arginine vasopressin (AVP), oxytocin, growth hormone, and prolactin [ 11,14,18] during TM diminish the likelihood of their participation in this response.…”

“…The long-term TM practitioner subjects were also TM instructors. We studied this precise group of TM subjects because several particularly marked physiologic changes have been recently identified during these individuals' elicitation of this state, including approximately a fivefold increment of arginine vasopressin (AVP; [18]), 40--60% declines of oxygen consumption [5], and prevalence of high amplitude theta bursts in the electroencephalogram (EEG) [8]. These two groups are referred to as "rest" and TM groups in this report.…”

The neuroscientific study of spiritual practices

“…However, other studies have suggested a mutual activation of parasympathetic and sympathetic systems by demonstrating an increase in the variability of heart rate during meditation (Peng et al, 1999). Measures of hormone and immune function have also been explored especially as an adjunct measure to various clinical outcomes (O’Halloran et al, 1985; Walton et al, 1995; Tooley et al, 2000; Infante et al, 2001). Hormonal changes associated with spiritual practices include those to cortisol, noradrenaline, endorphins, sex hormones, and growth hormone (Werner et al, 1986; MacLean et al, 1997; Nidhi et al, 2013; Sooksawat et al, 2013).…”

Meditation research, past, present, and future: perspectives from the Nalanda contemplative science tradition

“…62 Finally, this second prediction also finds support from current studies of alternate nostril breathing, 63 breath-slowing and breath-holding practices, 64 as well as from the emerging consensus that conscious breathing exerts smart-vagal dominance over the primitive sympathetic nervous system (SNS) and PNS, 65 balancing and integrating them to support social engagement with the help of the mammalian neuropeptides vasopressin and oxytocin. 66 Of note, this tradition would weigh in on current discussions of whether the slowing of cortical atrophy by meditation is due to neuroplasticity or to stress protection, predicting that these two mechanisms are linked and synergistic aspects of one general process of lateral integration are employed at all mind/brain levels in different ways by different meditative practices (see Figure 2). Thirdly, the traditional model predicts that there is a central locus of self-regulation at the level of central cardiorespiratory control, that breath is controlled by two binary circuits above and below that level, and that voluntary breathing, breath slowing, and breath holding can help link the circuits, yielding full access and control of primal winds and drops that support motivation and reward as well as the vital rhythms of life.…”