The Psychobiological Effects of Participation in a One-Month Insight Meditation Retreat
| Status: | Completed |
|---|---|
| Conditions: | Healthy Studies |
| Therapuetic Areas: | Other |
| Healthy: | No |
| Age Range: | 18 - 70 |
| Updated: | 2/18/2017 |
| Start Date: | February 3, 2013 |
| End Date: | February 4, 2014 |
The Psychobiological Effects of a One-Month Insight Meditation Retreat, a Sub-study of The Shamatha Project: A Longitudinal, Randomized Waitlist Control Study of Cognitive, Emotional, and Neural Effects of Intensive Meditation Training
The purpose of this study was to examine how participation in a 1 month intensive Insight
(vipassana) Meditation retreat (a) affects biological markers of cellular aging, social
affiliation, and inflammation, which are important for physical health, longevity, and
behavior, and (b) to relate observed biological changes to baseline levels and changes in
psychological traits, which may underlie improvements in personal adaptive functioning.
(vipassana) Meditation retreat (a) affects biological markers of cellular aging, social
affiliation, and inflammation, which are important for physical health, longevity, and
behavior, and (b) to relate observed biological changes to baseline levels and changes in
psychological traits, which may underlie improvements in personal adaptive functioning.
The investigators are specifically assessing the effects of retreat on telomere length and
telomerase levels in participants' white blood cells, as well as plasma levels of
interlukin-6 (IL-6), to assess how the retreat experience impacts these markers of cellular
aging and inflammation. The hypotheses are that retreat participation will increase both
telomere length and telomerase activity, but decrease IL-6 levels. The investigators will
also assess the impact of retreat participation on oxytocin—a hormone involved in a number
of physiological and behavioral processes, including affiliative bonds and stress
responses—the hypothesis being that participation in the retreat will increase plasma
oxytocin levels. The investigators will then explore how these and other biomarkers relate
to psychological processes and personality traits, which may also be altered by
participation in the meditation retreat.
telomerase levels in participants' white blood cells, as well as plasma levels of
interlukin-6 (IL-6), to assess how the retreat experience impacts these markers of cellular
aging and inflammation. The hypotheses are that retreat participation will increase both
telomere length and telomerase activity, but decrease IL-6 levels. The investigators will
also assess the impact of retreat participation on oxytocin—a hormone involved in a number
of physiological and behavioral processes, including affiliative bonds and stress
responses—the hypothesis being that participation in the retreat will increase plasma
oxytocin levels. The investigators will then explore how these and other biomarkers relate
to psychological processes and personality traits, which may also be altered by
participation in the meditation retreat.
Inclusion Criteria:
- Previous meditation experience equivalent to two 5-10 day residential meditation
retreats
Exclusion Criteria:
- Disclosure of potentially contagious blood-borne illness (e.g., HIV, Hepatitis, etc.)
or other illnesses that might interfere with telomere or telomerase measurement
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