Gene Expression Changes with Meditation (Study)

A new study authored by Richard Davidson from the Center for Investigating Healty Minds shows rapid alterations in gene expression within subjects associated with mindfulness meditation practice.

A new study by researchers in Wisconsin, Spain, and France reports the first evidence of specific molecular changes in the body following a period of mindfulness meditation.

“Our genes are quite dynamic in their expression and these results suggest that the calmness of our mind can actually have a potential influence on their expression,” says study author Richard Davidson, founder of the Center for Investigating Healthy Minds.

From the Center for Investigating Health Minds press release:

The study investigated the effects of a day of intensive mindfulness practice in a group of experienced meditators, compared to a group of untrained control subjects who engaged in quiet non-meditative activities. After eight hours of mindfulness practice, the meditators showed a range of genetic and molecular differences, including altered levels of gene-regulating machinery and reduced levels of pro-inflammatory genes, which in turn correlated with faster physical recovery from a stressful situation.

Read the full report.