Signatures of medications in meditation: A Connectivity map analysis of transcriptomes from an inner engineering retreat

Abstract

Meditation practices, known for their stress management and well-being benefits, are being increasingly integrated into wellness regimens and adjunct therapies for chronic conditions. We propose that beneath their non-pharmacological facade, meditation practices might operate via drug target modulation. Here, we leverage the Connectivity Map (CMap) to investigate (a) the overlap between meditation-induced molecular signatures and established drug responses, and (b) the pathways and mechanisms contributing to meditation therapeutic effects. This was studied in a comprehensive temporal RNAseq dataset comprising premeditation, meditation, and follow-up stages from a clinical trial involving 106 participants practising inner engineering meditation. Most striking, we observed intersection of meditation signatures with over 438 drugs, with ≥98% negative and positive connectivity scores and clusters of individuals with differential response. These drugs predominantly target the neuroactive ligand receptor signaling pathway, that are used widely in neuro-psychiatric disorders, hypertension, migraine, pain, insomnia, nicotine addiction, alcoholism, and cancer. This study underscores the need to (a) approach meditation with the same caution as medication, (b) tailor and calibrate meditation practices based on individual health status, disease profile, and concurrent medications, and (c) conduct meditation under expert guidance.