Voluntary inhibition of reflex: Effects of consistent meditative practice

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dc.contributor.authorPardikes, Thomas Jamesen
dc.contributor.committeechairFriedman, Bruce H.en
dc.contributor.committeememberHarrison, David W.en
dc.contributor.committeememberBell, Martha Annen
dc.contributor.committeememberHoffman, Kurt A.en
dc.contributor.departmentPsychologyen
dc.date.accessioned2014-03-14T20:11:34Zen
dc.date.adate2010-05-20en
dc.date.available2014-03-14T20:11:34Zen
dc.date.issued2010-04-22en
dc.date.rdate2010-05-20en
dc.date.sdate2010-05-04en
dc.description.abstractThe present study investigated the effects of meditative practices on the regulation of autonomic function. 74 subjects (38 women; 36 men) comprised from a range of experienced and non-experienced meditators, engaged in a series of psychophysiological tasks designed to generate specific autonomic states. Regression analyses revealed that experienced meditators, as predicted, displayed greater suppression of myocardial reactivity during a highly reflexive and stressful task. Meditative practice also predicted a rise in electrodermal activity during a relaxation task, contrary to expectations. These results support the concept that meditative practices may alter aspects of autonomic function. Further, these results inform an emerging mind-body paradigm and illustrate the potential consequences of meditative practices in specific disease states and prevention.en
dc.description.degreePh. D.en
dc.identifier.otheretd-05042010-132553en
dc.identifier.sourceurlhttp://scholar.lib.vt.edu/theses/available/etd-05042010-132553/en
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/10919/27539en
dc.publisherVirginia Techen
dc.relation.haspartPardikes_TJ_D_2010.pdfen
dc.rightsIn Copyrighten
dc.rights.urihttp://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/en
dc.subjectAnterior Regulationen
dc.subjectMeditationen
dc.subjectAutonomic Nervous Systemen
dc.titleVoluntary inhibition of reflex: Effects of consistent meditative practiceen
dc.typeDissertationen
thesis.degree.disciplinePsychologyen
thesis.degree.grantorVirginia Polytechnic Institute and State Universityen
thesis.degree.leveldoctoralen
thesis.degree.namePh. D.en

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