Psychobiological mechanisms underlying the mood benefits of meditation: A narrative review

Comprehensive Psychoneuroendocrinology

Jana Tseberja¹  Michael de Manincor²  Alexandra G. Parker³  Michaela C. Pascoe⁴  Peter A. Baldwin⁴  Mats Hallgren⁵ 

[1] Corresponding author. Institute for Health and Sport, Victoria University, Melbourne, VIC, 3011, Australia.;Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, 305 Grattan St, Melbourne, VIC, 3000, Australia;VIA University College, Aarhus, Denmark;Institute for Health and Sport, Victoria University, Melbourne, VIC, 3011, Australia;NICM Health Research Institute, Western Sydney University, Australia;

关键词: Brain;    Meditation;    Stress;    Autonomic nervous system;   

DOI  :  

来源: DOAJ

【 摘 要 】

Psychological stressors can lead to distress and result in autonomic arousal and activation of a stress response. Ongoing or persistent stress can disrupt the stress response feedback mechanisms and result in elevated cortisol and pro-inflammatory cytokines which can cause damage to brain regions involved in the regulation of mood and emotion. We propose that the magnitude of the stress response experienced in response to psychological stressors depends on a number of modifiable psychological processes including an individual’s level of self-compassion, dispositional mindfulness, tendency to ruminate and attentional bias. We further propose that the stress response elected by psychological stressors can be meditated by influencing these modifiable psychological processes, and that meditation practices can decrease stress and improve mood by decreasing stress reactivity on a psychological, physiological and neurobiological level. We explore this in a narrative review.

【 授权许可】

Unknown