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Meditation’s Calming Effects Pinpointed in the Brain

557 views · Published 6 August 2017 · 3:51 · Indexed 31 October 2026

Channel: Krish Murali Eswar · 2017 · Education

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Meditation’s Calming Effects
Pinpointed in the Brain

A new mouse study reveals a set
of neurons that may point to
physiological roots for the
benefits of breathing control

During yoga pranayama exercises,
people practice controlling
the breath, or prana, to induce
a state of calm and focus.

Paying attention to breathing
and regulating respiration
constitute a core component of
our SKY yoga practices.

Research suggests the practice
has multiple benefits —

it induces an overall sense of
well-being while reducing
anxiety and improving sleep.

But what exactly is going on
in the brain during meditation?

Imaging studies of humans
have shown that brain regions
involved in mind wandering,
attention and emotion
play a part in various stages
of Yoga & Meditation practice.

A new mouse study, shows that
neurons in the brain stem
may also mediate the link
between breathing and inducing
a state of meditative calm.

Neuroscientists discovered
the pre-Bötzinger complex,
an area containing neurons that
fired rhythmically in
time with each breath.

Recent evidence suggests
that the pre-Bötzinger complex
can control different
breathing behaviors.

Scientists reported on a
subset of neurons within
this brain region that is
solely responsible for
generating sighs.

When the researchers stimulated
these neurons in mice,
they sighed continuously.

But when the team removed
those nerve cells, the animals
kept breathing, never sighing.

The Research has uncovered
a separate group of neurons
in this area that appear to
have another specific function:

regulating states of calm and arousal.

The researchers also discovered
these neurons form connections
with the locus coeruleus,
another area in the brain stem
involved in modulating arousal
and emotion.

Evidence from human research
suggests that meditation and
respiration are closely connected.

Researchers discovered that
long-term meditators develop
slower breathing patterns than
those who did not practice
on a regular basis.

The findings raise the possibility
that “any form of practice—
from yoga pranayama to meditation—

that is actively manipulating
respiration might be using
this pathway to regulate
some aspects of arousal.”

Breathing is about staying alive
on one level, but it’s also
connected to emotional life.

Understanding how the brain
controls breathing could also
help develop new therapeutic
targets to treat conditions
such as anxiety, panic disorders
and arousal-related sleep disorders.

Visit SimplifiedKundaliniYoga.com

Learn Simplified Physical Exerices
Awaken your Kundalini Shakthi
Practice SKY Yoga
Lead a Calm Life.

Be Blessed by the Divine,
Krish Murali Eswar.
Visit Website:
http://naturopathyoga.org/sky
http://naturopathyoga.org/kky
http://www.SimplifiedKundaliniYoga.com
http://www.KayaKalpaYoga.com

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