The Physiology of Meditation

Wallace, Robert K.; Benson, Herbert

doi:10.1038/scientificamerican0272-84

Cited by 316 publications

(149 citation statements)

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“…As temperature goes up, so does metabolic rate and as temperature decreases we see a corresponding decrease in metabolism. Humans (even meditating ones), as a rule, do not experience large swings in core body temperature (that is the temperature deep within the chest or abdomen) and the decrease in metabolism seen in Wallace and Benson's (1972) study cannot be attributed to this temperature effect. Naturally, the lower one can decrease metabolism, the slower the utilization of oxygen and, importantly for humans, the slower the production and buildup of carbon dioxide in the body.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 93%

“…In one study, oxygen consumption (a measure of metabolic rate) during meditation in three subjects showed a 16% decrease within less than 30 minutes (Wallace and Benson 1972). When we speak of metabolism or metabolic rate what we are really considering is the sum total of all of the chemical reactions taking place in every cell throughout the body.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Every breath you take: physiology and the ecology of knowing in meditative practice

Wasser

2017

Int. J. Dharma Studies

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As a physiologist interested in contemplative practice and meditation I have enjoyed the opportunity of lecturing to students engaged in the study of contemplation. My pedagogic role was to expose them to some of what we know of the biological phenomena that are or may be taking place during various meditative statesexplicating for them the details of how the human body actually works. In the course of working with students and faculty engaged in meditation I formulated the following questions relating biological science and contemplative practice: What should a practitioner or a teacher of meditation know about basic human anatomy and physiology? Is it necessary for someone engaging in contemplative practice to understand how the human organism is actually put together and how it works? Will knowledge of how the various organs work with one another enhance one's ability to meditate or can we dispense with this information and suffer no consequences in our practice? The fundamental importance of somatic or physical phenomena in meditative practice (for example in control of breath, heart rate, or metabolism) and most people's lack of understanding of basic human anatomy and physiology led me to answer yes to all of these questions. In this paper I outline the physiological knowledge and particular insights I have found useful for enhancing a person's understanding of how we breathe, how we regulate our heart rate, and how we control our metabolic rate in 'control' or non-meditative states and the kinds of changes we might expect in a meditating subject. I link what is perhaps the fundamental principle of physiology, the concept of 'homeostasis', with the balance and integration of the body systems sought by people engaged in contemplation. Mind-body harmony or an enhanced awareness of this linkage between the mind and the body can, in my opinion, be more fully realized when coupled with an understanding of what Hippocrates called, 'the nature of the body', that is, what the body actually does and how it does it.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 93%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Every breath you take: physiology and the ecology of knowing in meditative practice

Wasser

2017

Int. J. Dharma Studies

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“…Research conducted by R.K. Wallace and H. Benson of Harvard University found that mental relaxation helped subjects perform cognitive tasks involving concentration, shifting their attention, and keeping their emotional balance. They were able to perform these tasks without tension, mental fatigue, or negative thoughts and emotions (Wallace & Benson;1972). Research has shown the necessity of taking the subject's personality type into account when making this choice, whether the participant is healthy or ill. (Kulmatycki & Miedzinska, 1999;Kulmatycki 2011).…”

Section: Problemmentioning

confidence: 99%

Relaxation Techniques and States – Applications to Physical Therapy

Kulmatycki¹

2012

Physical Therapy Perspectives in the 21st Century - Challenges and Possibilities

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“…Wallace and Benson, 1972;Herzog et al, 1990-91;Saver and Rabin, 1997;Newberg et al, 1997;Austin, 1998;Travis, 2001;Peng et al, 2004). Scientific empirical studies of trance are very rare, due in part to the fact that trancers are constantly in motion and the technology to handle this field situation is only now developing (e.g.…”

Section: Meditationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Religious Ecstatics, "Deep Listeners," and Musical Emotion

Penman¹,

Becker²

2009

Empirical Musicology Review

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The aim of this study is to begin to provide an explanation for the worldwide linkage of music and ecstatic religious ceremonies. The basic hypothesis is that the physiological ability to respond to musical stimuli with strong emotional responses is one of the pre-conditions for the propulsion into ecstasy. A second hypothesis is that a sub-set of the music-loving community, the "deep listeners" who are profoundly moved (chills, tears) by musical listening will have emotional reactions similar to those of religious ecstatics. 60 participants, divided into five groups, were tested using galvanic skin response and heart rate measurements. The results seem to support the hypotheses by demonstrating 1) a correlation between being a religious ecstatic and having a strong GSR while listening to favorite music, in comparison with control groups, and 2) a correlation between being a secular "deep listener" and having a similarly strong GSR listening to favorite music, in comparison with control groups.

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The Physiology of Meditation

Cited by 316 publications

References 0 publications

Every breath you take: physiology and the ecology of knowing in meditative practice

Every breath you take: physiology and the ecology of knowing in meditative practice

Relaxation Techniques and States – Applications to Physical Therapy

Religious Ecstatics, "Deep Listeners," and Musical Emotion

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