Elsevier

Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews

Volume 73, February 2017, Pages 165-181
Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews

Review article
The embodied mind: A review on functional genomic and neurological correlates of mind-body therapies

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neubiorev.2016.12.027Get rights and content

Highlights

  • Functional genomic and neurological correlates of mind-body practices are reviewed.

  • EEG and Neuroimaging correlates of mind-body therapies and meditation are reviewed.

  • Mechanisms of action by which mind-body practices influence health outcomes are discussed

Abstract

A broad range of mind-body therapies (MBTs) are used by the public today, and a growing body of clinical and basic sciences research has resulted in evidence-based integration of many MBTs into clinical practice. Basic sciences research has identified some of the physiological correlates of MBT practices, leading to a better understanding of the processes by which emotional, cognitive and psychosocial factors can influence health outcomes and well-being. In particular, results from functional genomics and neuroimaging describe some of the processes involved in the mind-body connection and how these can influence health outcomes. Functional genomic and neurophysiological correlates of MBTs are reviewed, detailing studies showing changes in sympathetic nervous system activation of gene transcription factors involved in immune function and inflammation, electroencephalographic and neuroimaging studies on MBT practices, and persistent changes in neural function and morphology associated with these practices. While the broad diversity of study designs and MBTs studied presents a patchwork of results requiring further validation through replication and longitudinal studies, clear themes emerge for MBTs as immunomodulatory, with effects on leukocyte transcription and function related to inflammatory and innate immune responses, and neuromodulatory, with effects on brain function and morphology relevant for attention, learning, and emotion regulation. By detailing the potential mechanisms of action by which MBTs may influence health outcomes, the data generated by these studies have contributed significantly towards a better understanding of the biological mechanisms underlying MBTs.

Section snippets

Introduction—physiological correlates of mind-Body therapies

The scope of mind-body therapies (MBTs) used by the public today is broad, and generally includes meditation, yoga, guided imagery, breathing exercises, progressive relaxation, Tai Chi Chuan, etc. (National Institutes of Health, 2007). Over the past several decades, substantial evidence has emerged that MBTs can enhance health outcomes, act as effective adjuncts to conventional medical treatment (Astin et al., 2003) and be effectively integrated into an evolving mainstream medical paradigm,

Social stress and inflammation

A large and growing body of research has elucidated some of the mechanisms involved in cellular responses to psychosocial stress and emotional factors. Human and animal studies have shown that noradrenaline-dependent adrenergic stimulation due to psychosocial stress results in activation of the nuclear factor kappa light chain enhancer of activated B cells (NF-κB) protein complex, which controls genes expressed during inflammation (Bierhaus et al., 2003, Slavich and Irwin, 2014, Wolf et al.,

Functional genomic correlates of mind-body therapies

Interest in transcriptional changes driven by MBTs has grown in recent years, and is summarized in Table 1. Several studies have reported physiological responses to MBT practices suggestive of reductions in stress. A recent review surveyed reports of changes in gene expression with several yoga and meditative practices (Saatcioglu, 2013), concluding that these practices can positively affect gene expression profiles in circulating immune cells, an effect consistent with reductions in stress (

Electroencephalography

While studies on the effects of MBTs on gene expression have focused largely on inflammation and immune function, a diverse picture has emerged from research on the neurological results of these practices. In recent years, advances in EEG and neuroimaging techniques have produced detailed maps of the interrelationships between neural activity and cognitive/emotional content. This has enabled reviews of the growing literature on EEG profiles associated with MBT practice, summarized here in Table

Discussion and conclusions

The studies reviewed here report a variety of functional genomic and neurological correlates of MBT practices. These build upon a background of studies investigating the physiology of mental/emotional stress and the neurological substrates of cognition and emotion, which have therein provided tools for developing a deeper understanding of MBT practices. These studies have significantly advanced our understanding of transcriptional pathways and neurological mechanisms relevant to MBTs, as well

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