How God Changes Your Brain - Andrew Newberg, M. D_ [130]
Sharma H, Sen S, Singh A, Bhardwaj NK, Kochupillai V, Singh N. Sudarshan Kriya practitioners exhibit better antioxidant status and lower blood lactate levels. Biol Psychol. 2003 Jul;63(3):281–91.
7. Bernardi L, Sleight P, Bandinelli G, Cencetti S, Fattorini L, Wdowczyc-Szulc J, Lagi A. Effect of rosary prayer and yoga mantras on autonomic cardiovascular rhythms: comparative study. BMJ. 2001 Dec 22–29;323(7327):1446–9.
8. Different kundalini, kriya, and tantric yoga teachers may ascribe different meanings to the same mantra or sound. According to Dr. Dharma Singh Khalsa, sa means beginning, infinity, or absolute totality, while other teachers have ascribed the features of wisdom or knowledge. Ta symbolizes life, existence, and creativity to one teacher, but symbolizes patience to another. For Khalsa, na means death, change, and the transformation of consciousness. Ma means rebirth, regeneration, and resurrection to some teachers, while to others it stands for intuitive communication. According Yogi Bhajan, the ah part of the sound means “truth manifested” (The Teachings of Yogi Bhajan, Dutton, 1977). According to extensive studies by Herbert Benson and others, it appears to make no difference, in terms of the relaxation response, which sound or word you use. What matters is that is symbolizes something positive to the practitioner.
9. Novel and unusual sounds specifically heighten the neural pathways of consciousness. See, for example: Jaaskelainen IP, Ahveninen J, Bonmassar G, Dale AM, Ilmoniemi RJ, Levanen S, Lin FH, May P, Melcher J, Stufflebeam S, Tiitinen H, Belliveau JW. Human posterior auditory cortex gates novel sounds to consciousness. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2004 Apr 27;101(17):6809–14.
New research also shows that the cerebellum plays a key role in memory, attention, and coordination, and that repetitive activities, like finger tapping, play crucial roles in modulating cerebellar activity. See: Spencer RM, Verstynen T, Brett M, Ivry R. Cerebellar activation during discrete and not continuous timed movements: An fMRI study. Neuroimage. 2007 Jun;36(2):378–87; Akshoomoff NA, Courchesne E, Townsend J. Attention coordination and anticipatory control. Int Rev Neurobiol. 1997;41:575-98.
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Lenartowicz A, McIntosh AR. The role of anterior cingulate cortex in working memory is shaped by functional connectivity. J Cogn Neurosci. 2005 Jul;17(7):1026–42.
11. Pardo JV, Lee JT, Sheikh SA, Surerus-Johnson C, Shah H, Munch KR, Carlis JV, Lewis SM, Kuskowski MA, Dysken MW. Where the brain grows old: decline in anterior cingulate and medial prefrontal function with normal aging. Neuroimage. 2007 Apr 15;35(3):1231–7.
Otsuka Y, Osaka N, Morishita M, Kondo H, Osaka M. Decreased activation of anterior cingulate cortex in the working memory of the elderly. Neuroreport. 2006 Oct 2;17(14):1479–82.
12. Holmes AJ, Pizzagalli DA. Spatiotemporal dynamics of error processing dysfunctions in major depressive disorder. Arch Gen Psychiatry. 2008 Feb;65(2):179–88.
Foster JA, MacQueen G. Neurobiological factors linking personality traits and major depression. Can J Psychiatry. 2008