by tiffany cruikshank brain mechanisms of self-transformation through...
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Brain Mechanisms of Self-Transformation Through YogaBY DAVID VAGO, PH.D
Y O G A M E D I C I N EEDUCATION. EXPERIENCE. RESULTS.
BY TIFFANY CRUIKSHANK
Brain Mechanisms of Self-Transformation Through Yoga
http://contemplativeneurosciences.com [email protected]
David Vago, Ph.D. Functional Neuroimaging Laboratory –
Cognitive, Affective, & Contemplative Clinical Neurosciences Department of Psychiatry
PatanjaliSwamiVivekananda
YOGA
Yamas
Medita,on Ethics SustainedPostures
BreathControl
Niyamas Asanas Pranayama Dharana
Dhyana
Samadhi
• Sthiram sukham aasanam – “the position which is comfortable and steady”
Patanjali
Outline • Mapping the Meditative & Yogi Mind Through Self-Transformation – Habits of Mind – A Cognitive Model for Suffering – Brain Networks underlying habits of mind – Stress and Allostatic Load
• Modeling Core Limbs of Yoga practice – Brain Network Interactions
• Current Neuroscientific Research • Summary, Take-home Messages
Brain Mechanisms of Self-Transformation Through Yoga
Time & Proficiency
Diagnostic Tool
Navigation of Progress
Targets for Therapeutic Purposes
Cole et al. 2013
Time & Proficiency
Diagnostic Tool
Navigation of Progress
Targets for Therapeutic Purposes
Svādhyāya
• Sanskrit term which literally means "one's own reading" and "self-study”
Study thy self, discover the divine.— Patanjali’s Yogasutra, II.44 [33]
Me
Percep,on Evalua,on
0 250 500 ms
Me Me
SensoryAwareness
Me Me
Meta-Awareness
MOMENT
Anger Anxiety & Fear
Sadness negative outlook
Habits of Mind Selfing – A String of Moments
Me
Percep,on Evalua,on
Me Me
SensoryAwareness
Me Me
Anger Anxiety & Fear
Sadness negative outlook
- - - -
• Reification of Self – Pervasive Negative Self-focus & Worldview
• Long-term impacts of Stress on Mind & Body
• Depression, Anxiety, Cardiovascular disease
Me
Stress Stresshasalargeimpactonmyhealth
Me
Percep,on Evalua,on
0 250 500 ms
Me Me
SensoryAwareness
Me Me
Meta-Awareness
MOMENT
Stress
Me
Stress StresshasliDletonoimpactonmyhealth
The stress response
The stress response • Stress - state of threatened homeostasis provoked by
psychological, environmental, or physiologic stressor (Chrousos & Gold, 1992)
• Stressor - A stimulus (internal/external) that threatens homeostasis through activation of the HPA axis and SNS, resulting in physiological change or adaptation so that organism can deal with the threat (Maier & Watkins, 1998)
• Immediate Response: • Acute Phase: Sympathetic activation – HPA axis activation
(immediate autonomic/cardiovascular response)
• Long-term: – Decrease in reproductive & growth hormones – Immune response is attenuated in long-term
The stress response
• Eustress - positive cognitive response to a stressor that is healthy, or gives one a feeling of fulfilment or other positive feelings.
• defined by how one perceives that stressor (e.g. a negative threat versus a positive challenge)
Lazarus, R. S. (1966). Psychological Stress and the Coping Process. New York, Toronto, London: McGraw-Hill Book Co.
HPA Axis
Allostatic Load • Allostatic “overload” refers to the wear and tear that
results from: 1. too much stress, repeated “hits” from multiple stressors accompanied by inefficient management of allostasis 2. Prolonged response – slow to terminate autonomic/ neuroendocrine response 3. not turning on an adequate response in the first place [hyperactivity with other mediators (e.g., autoimmune disorder)] 4. not habituating to the recurrence of the same stressor and thus dampening the allostatic response. Chronic allostatic load (dysregulated allostasis) can lead to pathophysiology
McEwen & Gianaros, 2010
Popovich & McTigue, 2009. Nature Medicine
HPA Axis under Allostatic Overload
How do the core Yoga components map onto the 4
networks of selfing ?
Mechanisms• Central executive network - top-down attentional control and
working memory allowing monitoring for proper goal-directed behavior followed by self-correction if needed.
• FPCN - executive monitoring, meta-awareness, reappraisal, and response inhibition mechanisms.
• Moral cognition network - positive forms of re-appraisal, as well as motivation and intention setting associated with self -care and prosocial behavior.
• Low-level brain networks - modulate autonomic output through inhibitory connections coming from a dorsal attention network that functions to support early forms of attentional orienting, and engagement, parasympathetic activation through vagal efferents, conditioning of breathing musculature and Baroreceptors in the lungs.
• Striatopallidal-thalamocortical network - facilitating extinction learning and reconsolidation of maladaptive habits into behavior that is aligned with intentions and outcomes into adaptive habits.
The Basic Neuroscience Research
Yoga for Self-regulation (4 primary factors for Self-Transformation)
1. Emphasis on interoception and bottom-up input 2. Perceptual Inference rather than Active inference 3. More efficient bidirectional feedback and neuro-
visceral integration 4. Increased Phasic Inhibition of maladaptive forms
of emotional, cognitive, & behavioral output (e.g., reactivity, negative appraisal, rumination) as well as autonomic output (vaso/pulmonary constriction, inflammation, muscle tension/pain
SUMMARY OF BRAIN IMAGING CROSS-SECTIONAL RESEARCH
Morphological Findings [Cortical Thickness, Voxel-based Morphometry (VBM), and Diffusion
Tensor Imaging Analyses]
From Lazar 2005; Pagnoni and Cekic, 2007; Holzel et al., 2008, 2010; Vestergaard-Poulsen et al. 2009; Luders et al. 2009, 2011, 2012, 2013; Grant et al., 2010; Tang et al., 2012; Farb et al., 2013; Fayed et al., 2013; Kang et al., 2013; Kumar et al., 2013; Leung et al., 2013;
ITG
Insula
Sensory/motor ctx
dACC
Insula
Hippocampus ITG/MT
OFC
Functional Findings [BOLD, Perfusion]
From Lou et al., 1999; Lazar et al., 2000; Brefczynski-Lewis et al, 2007; Farb et al, 2007; Lutz et al, 2008; Shimomura et al., 2008; Lutz et al., 2009; Davanger et al., 2010; Engstrom et al, 2010; Manna et al., 2010; Brewer et al, 2011; Gard et al., 2011; Ives-Deliperi et al., 2011; Kalyani et al., 2011; Taylor et al., 2011; Wang et al., 2011; Dickenson et. al., 2012; Hasencamp et al., 2012; Lee et al., 2012; Farb et al, 2013; Guleria et al, 2013; Lutz et al., 2013; Weng et al, 2013; Lutz et al, 2014
ITG
Insula
Sensory/motor ctx
dACC
Insula
Hippocampus ITG/MT
Striatum
PCC
pIPL
vlPFC
dlPFC
1999,Nature
• Paranthropis(2.7–1.2Ma)
• Rela5vevolumes(asapercentageofwholebrainsize)offourregionsoftheprefrontalcortexinhumansandgreatapes.
• Rela5vesizeofhumanBA10(FPC)istwicethatofbothbonobosandchimpanzees
Data from Schenker (2007) and Semendeferi et al. (1998, 2001).
SummaryandTake-homeMessages
• Suffering can be described through maladaptive habits of mind and reactions to stress (from both high and low-level) brain networks
• Yoga can be conceptualized through 4 main components (Meditation, Ethics, Sustained postures, and Breath control)
• Transformation of the Self is likely through greater integration of high and low-level networks and systems as well as a shift towards bottom-up interoceptive processing
http://contemplativeneurosciences.com/ [email protected]
Special Thanks to:
• EmilyStern
• SwathiIyer
• MonicaBenneV• EmilyFeeney• AndreaPoile
• BenFuchs• CourtneyHaley• LaurelMorris• LoreneLeung
Support from:
• EinatLiebenthal• JaneEpstein
• HongPan
• DavidSilbersweig
http://contemplativeneurosciences.com/ [email protected]
TheImpactFounda5on&Anonymous
PhilanthropicDona5onsShinzen Young & Stephanie Nash
Thank You
DavidR.Vago,Ph.D.,Brigham&Women'sHospital,HarvardMedicalSchool
hDp://contempla,[email protected]