A new study reveals that 'poetic meditation' can improve qualitative data analysis by offering researchers a unique sensory experience and approach to data collection. Researchers at the University of Birmingham and Kedge Business School found that this technique allows them to capture unexpected insights and deal with uncertainty.
A survey of over 1,000 cancer patients and 150 oncologists found that nearly two-thirds of patients want to know about complementary therapies before starting conventional treatment. Integrative oncology can help manage side effects and improve overall well-being, with 50% of patients and 60% of oncologists strongly agreeing.
A recent study found that mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) was as effective as the gold-standard antidepressant drug escitalopram in reducing anxiety symptoms. MBSR showed a significant 30% drop in anxiety severity, similar to escitalopram.
Researchers found that all mind-body practices led to significant reductions in blood sugar levels, with yoga providing the largest benefit. The study suggests that these practices could be used as a complementary nonpharmacological treatment or preventive measure for type 2 diabetes.
Healthy older adults exhibit greater mental well-being despite poorer cognitive performance than younger adults. The study reveals that neural mechanisms underlying these findings may inspire new therapeutic interventions to promote healthy brain function.
A new module at SMU aims to integrate mindfulness with positive psychology, focusing on personal mastery, autonomy, and flourishing. Regular practice is emphasized, with techniques such as meditation and journaling, to help students develop self-regulatory skills and achieve holistic learning.
A study suggests that combining individual mindfulness practice with team-based stress management skills can offer more benefits than individual mindfulness alone. The 'blended' approach showed improved individual resilience and working memory, as well as increased collective mindfulness in the team atmosphere.
Researchers at the University of Wisconsin-Madison's Center for Healthy Minds found that mindfulness training alters specific pathways in the brain related to pain regulation. Participants who completed an eight-week Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction course showed a reduction in pain-related brain activity, suggesting a potential new ...
According to a new poll, nearly 40% of older adults (50-80) use at least one integrative medicine strategy to alleviate symptoms or relax. However, only 18% discuss these strategies with their healthcare providers. The poll highlights the importance of primary care clinicians discussing integrative approaches with patients.
A study by Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health and Brigham and Women's Hospital found that incorporating spirituality into care can lead to healthier lives, including greater longevity and quality of life. The researchers recommend increasing awareness among clinicians about the protective benefits of spiritual community particip...
A recent study published in PAIN found that mindfulness meditation can reduce pain intensity and unpleasantness by separating pain from the sense of self. Participants who practiced mindfulness reported a significant reduction in pain levels after undergoing painful heat stimuli.
A new study published in PLOS ONE found that dog-assisted interventions can significantly reduce stress levels in elementary school children, both with and without special needs. The research used salivary cortisol levels to track the effects of dog interactions on stress levels, revealing a decrease in cortisol levels after dog sessions.
SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS ONE·TypeRandomized controlled/clinical trial·DateJun 15, 2022
A recent Oregon State University study found that a mindfulness-based intervention delivered via videoconference was a feasible treatment option for survivors of breast and gynecologic cancers. The pilot study showed that participants learned mindfulness exercises, gained insight into sexual interest, and appreciated the group's suppor...
A team from the University of Wisconsin-Madison found no significant differences in structural brain changes between participants who received short-term mindfulness training and those who did not. Despite this, participants reported increased mindfulness, suggesting that benefits may be related to wellness interventions more broadly.
Scientists from Ruhr-University Bochum argue that selfless memories are possible and should be taken seriously. They propose the Bochum model of memory, which suggests that people construct a vivid memory by enriching a stored memory trace with background knowledge and adding self-facets.
Researchers conducted an online survey of Orgasmic Meditation (OM) practitioners, collecting over 200 responses. The study found that more than 80% of participants viewed OM as similar to meditation, but not sex or fondling. OM sessions involve manual stimulation and aim to induce a meditative state.
A new study found that a brief befriending-themed meditation can reduce affective polarization between Remain and Leave voters in the UK. The meditation increased perceived commonality between sides, suggesting a potential strategy to address polarization.
A new study published in Drug and Alcohol Review found that binaural beats are being used as digital drugs by over 30,000 people worldwide, with users primarily seeking relaxation and mood change. The survey also revealed that binaural beat listeners are more likely to be younger and report recent use of prohibited drugs.
A pilot study by UC San Diego School of Medicine found that eight weeks of mindfulness training significantly reduced symptoms of trauma and depression in individuals grieving from gun violence. Participants showed notable improvements in life satisfaction, with benefits lasting after the program concluded.
A study by researchers at the University of Quebec in Montreal found that mindfulness meditation can help people cope with internal conflicts. The experiment involved 121 volunteers who underwent either a mindfulness body scan or read magazines for 15 minutes, then completed a questionnaire about their emotional state.
Researchers found that mindfulness meditation can reduce feelings of guilt and lead to less generous behavior in social situations. However, it may also cause individuals to focus outward on others rather than inwardly considering their own emotions.
A new study published in the Journal of Oncology found that breast cancer patients treated at hospitals and health systems with integrative health services have a better chance of survival. These services include complementary and lifestyle therapies, such as nutrition and exercise counseling, in addition to medical cancer treatments.
Middle-aged women with higher self-compassion had thinner carotid artery walls and less plaque buildup, linked to lower cardiovascular disease risk. The findings persisted even when controlling for behaviors and psychological factors.
A study published in PLOS ONE found that meditation can affect individuals in distinct ways, with experienced meditators exhibiting different physiological responses. While some practitioners displayed signs of relaxation, others showed mental concentration, highlighting the need for tailored approaches to assisted meditation.
A recent University of Cincinnati study investigated how mindfulness affects mind wandering and found that while it can be effective in reducing mind-wandering thoughts, the results differ depending on the research methodology. The study suggests using computer-based testing methods to measure mind wandering for more reliable findings.
A new study found that white people trained in mindfulness were three times more likely to help black people in staged scenarios than those who were not trained. However, preferential helping of other white people remained, and participants preferred to help racial ingroup members.
A new study found that orgasmic meditation produces a distinctive pattern of brain function, affecting areas associated with sexual stimulation and traditional meditation. The practice was correlated with alterations in the autonomic nervous system and reported profound spiritual experiences among participants.
A study found that meditation training reduced chronic stress by 25% through decreased cortisol levels in hair. The researchers used a 9-month training programme to measure the effect, and the results showed that only sufficiently long training leads to significant stress-reducing effects.
Novice participants in a three-week online meditation course showed improved emotional wellbeing, concentration, and motivation. Effects were strongest among those with high levels of self-control and motivation, highlighting the importance of individual differences in response to mindfulness interventions.
A new WVU study found that psychological capital, including self-efficacy, optimism, hope, and resiliency, can help employees cope with the stress of working during a pandemic. Workers who used adaptive coping strategies fared better, but those relying on maladaptive behaviors experienced higher levels of stress.
A new study published in the Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology found that a six-week progressive muscle relaxation program significantly improved grief severity and yearning in widows and widowers. This approach was more effective than mindfulness training, which also showed improvements but not to the same extent.
A new randomized controlled trial found that Transcendental Meditation significantly improved emotional stress symptoms, quality of sleep, and English Language Arts academic achievement in high school students. The study showed that meditation was more effective than sustained silent reading in improving academic outcomes.
A recent study published in PLOS ONE explores the experience of pure consciousness during meditation, identifying 12 key factors that characterize this state. These findings provide insight into human consciousness and have implications for further research, including potential applications beyond meditation practices.
A recent study found that mindfulness-based meditation programs have similar rates of adverse effects to other psychological treatments, and identified key obstacles to harms monitoring. The study provides a blueprint for accurately assessing the risks of these programs and maximizing their efficacy while minimizing harm.
A nine-month program combining theoretical studies and meditation practices improved life satisfaction, perceived well-being, and emotional regulation. The study suggests that happiness is linked to inner equilibrium and offers a secular approach to develop authentic happiness.
A new study found that Transcendental Meditation significantly reduces PTSD symptom severity, depression, and anxiety in veterans. After three months, 50% of meditating veterans no longer met criteria for PTSD, compared to 10% of controls.
A study published at ESC Acute CardioVascular Care 2021 found that an eight-week programme of mindfulness meditation improves quality of life and reduces fear of movement in heart attack survivors. The intervention also showed benefits for emotional function, with participants reporting better feelings about their daily lives.
The University of Melbourne is establishing a Contemplative Studies Centre, led by Dr Nicholas Van Dam, with a focus on evidence-based research and guidelines for contemplative practices. The centre aims to bring together experts from around the world to critically assess practices and provide authentic experiences.
A new study published in Frontiers in Education found that Transcendental Meditation significantly improves emotional exhaustion, resilience, perceived stress, fatigue, and depression in teachers. This meditation-based teacher development program demonstrates the benefits of meditation for strengthening mental and physical health.
A recent clinical trial found that mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) reduced migraine frequency and severity in adults with a history of migraine. MBSR improved quality of life, depression scores, and measures of emotional well-being compared to headache education.
A new UCLA-led research study shows that mindfulness meditation can significantly reduce depressive symptoms and related issues such as fatigue and sleep disturbance in younger breast cancer survivors. The six-week interventions were effective in improving the mental health of women diagnosed with breast cancer at a young age.
Researchers at University of Wisconsin-Madison introduce a new framework for emotional well-being, focusing on specific skills that can be learned. The framework emphasizes four pillars: awareness, connection, insight, and purpose, which have been studied in the lab and shown to improve well-being.
A study found that participants in an eight-week MBSR course reported significant improvements in pain, depression, and disability. The program helped patients cope with their pain and improve their mental and physical health.
Researchers found loving-kindness meditation to be more effective in increasing happiness and positive emotions, while compassion meditation also did not result in negative emotions growth. Self-compassion played a key role in the positive effects of compassion meditation.
Researchers found that meditation training significantly improved brain-computer interface (BCI) control and proficiency in just eight lessons. Brain activity patterns correlated directly with success, with meditation-trained individuals showing enhanced alpha rhythm modulation.
A study found that yoga, tai chi, and meditation improve overall physical and mental health, reducing perceived stress. Veterans reported using 14 different CIH therapies, with yoga being the most popular.
A pilot study suggests meditation-relaxation therapy can reduce the frequency and severity of sleep paralysis. Participants experienced a significant decrease in sleep paralysis episodes and hallucination disturbances after treatment.
Researchers found potential benefits of meditation and yoga in reducing stress and inflammation, which can aid in immune system enhancement. These practices may provide additional counteracting effects against certain infectious challenges associated with COVID-19.
A large-scale survey found that meditation was associated with reduced rates of high cholesterol, high blood pressure, diabetes, stroke, and coronary artery disease. The study controlled for other factors connected to cardiovascular risk and still showed a significant effect of meditation on cardiovascular health.
Researchers at IMT School for Advanced Studies Lucca found that transcendental meditation reduces anxiety and stress levels. The study used fMRI to measure brain activity and connectivity in healthy young volunteers who practiced TM for three months.
A new study by Yale researchers found that a brief introduction to mindfulness concepts can significantly reduce physical pain and negative emotions in people. The study's results showed that even when participants were subjected to high heat on their forearm, their brain responded as if it was experiencing normal temperature.
A new online version of Mindfulness-based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) has been developed to help treat lingering depressive symptoms and prevent their return. The digital program, called Mindful Mood Balance (MMB), combines mindfulness meditation with cognitive therapy to teach patients adaptive ways of regulating emotions.
A study using high frequency heart rate variability found that mindfulness meditation sessions incorporating nonjudgment led to better recovery in perfectionists. Nonjudgment element improved mental health outcomes compared to general mindfulness sessions.
A randomized controlled study found that Transcendental Meditation prevents abnormal enlargement of the heart and reduces chronic heart failure in African Americans. The study tested 85 hypertensive participants who practiced TM or received health education controls, with significant reductions in cardiovascular mortality and morbidity.
A study published in Journal of Nuclear Cardiology found that combining Transcendental Meditation with cardiac rehabilitation increases myocardial blood flow by 20.7%. This increase is significantly higher than the 5.8% improvement seen with cardiac rehabilitation alone.
Researchers at MUSC have developed E-meditation, merging mindfulness with transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) to calm the mind. The study, involving 31 participants, showed promising results, with attendees easily applying the device and minimal side effects.
A new study from Michigan State University found that open monitoring meditation increased error recognition in non-meditators. The researchers measured brain activity using EEG and found a stronger neural signal about half a second after an error, indicating enhanced conscious error recognition.
A new study found that mind-body therapies such as meditation/mindfulness, hypnosis, and cognitive-behavioral therapy can significantly reduce pain severity and opioid use among patients treated with prescription opioids. These findings have critical implications for medical professionals seeking effective treatments for pain management.
Researchers found that mindfulness meditation boosts the positive long-term effects of a single dose of psilocybin, reducing stress and increasing feelings of happiness. The study showed that meditation can counteract negative reactions to psilocybin and increase empathy and altruism.
A study published in Biological Psychiatry found that mindfulness meditation training enhances the ability to recall a 'safety' memory, leading to reduced fear and anxiety. The researchers used MRI scans to examine changes in the brain associated with attention and memory following mindfulness meditation training.