The influence of concentration/meditation on autonomic nervous system activity and the innate immune response: a case study.
Publication year
2012Source
Psychosomatic Medicine, 74, 5, (2012), pp. 489-494ISSN
Annotation
1 juni 2012
Publication type
Article / Letter to editor

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Organization
Intensive Care
Anesthesiology
Internal Medicine
Neurology
Cardiology
Physiology
Journal title
Psychosomatic Medicine
Volume
vol. 74
Issue
iss. 5
Page start
p. 489
Page end
p. 494
Subject
DCN MP - Plasticity and memory; DCN MP - Plasticity and memory N4i 1: Pathogenesis and modulation of inflammation; IGMD 7: Iron metabolism N4i 1: Pathogenesis and modulation of inflammation; N4i 1: Pathogenesis and modulation of inflammation NCMLS 1: Infection and autoimmunity; NCEBP 14: Cardiovascular diseases IGMD 5: Health aging / healthy living; DCN MP - Plasticity and memory N4i 1: Pathogenesis and modulation of inflammationAbstract
OBJECTIVE: In this case study, we describe the effects of a particular individual's concentration/meditation technique on autonomic nervous system activity and the innate immune response. The study participant holds several world records with regard to tolerating extreme cold and claims that he can influence his autonomic nervous system and thereby his innate immune response. METHODS: The individual's ex vivo cytokine response (stimulation of peripheral blood mononuclear cells with lipopolysaccharide [LPS]) was determined before and after an 80-minute full-body ice immersion during which the individual practiced his concentration/meditation technique. Furthermore, the individual's in vivo innate immune response was studied while practicing his concentration/mediation technique during human endotoxemia (intravenous administration of 2 ng/kg LPS). The results from the endotoxemia experiment were compared with a historical cohort of 112 individuals who participated in endotoxemia experiments in our institution. RESULTS: The ex vivo proinflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokine response was greatly attenuated by concentration/meditation during ice immersion, accompanied by high levels of cortisol. In the endotoxemia experiment, concentration/meditation resulted in increased circulating concentrations of catecholamines, and plasma cortisol concentrations were higher than in any of the previously studied participants. The individual's in vivo cytokine response and clinical symptoms after LPS administration were remarkably low compared with previously studied participants. CONCLUSIONS: The concentration/meditation technique used by this particular individual seems to evoke a controlled stress response. This response is characterized by sympathetic nervous system activation and subsequent catecholamine/cortisol release, which seems to attenuate the innate immune response.
This item appears in the following Collection(s)
- Academic publications [202914]
- Faculty of Medical Sciences [80065]
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