A new study suggests that just one week of intensive meditation may leave measurable changes in the brain, immune system and metabolism.
Busy schedules, endless notifications and constant stress have become part of everyday life for many people.
As more people look for ways to improve their mental wellbeing, new research suggests that dedicating just one week to intensive meditation could have effects that extend far beyond relaxation, reports ScienceDaily.
The findings come from researchers at the University of California San Diego and were published in Communications Biology.
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More than relaxation
The research team followed 20 healthy adults who attended a seven-day residential retreat combining meditation, educational sessions and a range of mind-body practices.
Participants underwent brain scans and provided blood samples before and after the programme to determine whether the intensive experience produced measurable biological changes.
When the retreat ended, researchers found evidence that several biological markers had shifted. The results suggested greater neuroplasticity, the brain's ability to create new neural connections and adapt to new experiences, alongside noticeable changes in brain activity.
Changes throughout the body
The effects were not limited to the brain. Blood analyses also revealed changes linked to metabolism, immune function and the body's natural pain-relief mechanisms.
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Researchers further observed that blood collected after the retreat encouraged laboratory-grown neurons to develop more branches and stronger connections, indicating an increased capacity for neural adaptation.
More research needed
One of the study's most intriguing findings was that some participants displayed brain connectivity patterns similar to those previously observed in psychedelic research.
The researchers stress, however, that meditation and psychedelic substances are not equivalent, even if they may activate some overlapping brain networks.
The team also cautions that the study involved only 20 participants and combined several interventions at the same time.
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As a result, it remains unclear which elements were responsible for the observed effects. Larger clinical studies will be needed before these findings can be translated into treatments for conditions such as chronic pain or mental health disorders.
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This article is made and published by Mie Hermansen, who may have used AI in the preparation.