About this Research Topic
Meditation and its related forms of mind-body therapy, such as yoga, tai chi and chi-gong, has become increasingly studied by researchers during the last 30 years as a tool for enhancing mental abilities, including executive attention and emotional regulation. In addition studies are showing its efficacy as a complementary medicine used to reduce stress and to treat a variety of disorders. These include mental/emotional problems, such as ADHD, depression, anxiety and Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD), cardiovascular disease, autism and immune function issues (including psoriasis and other auto-immune diseases), among others. Research on meditation has consistently demonstrated a positive effect on a number of physiological variables resulting in enhancement of mental function and the amelioration of many mental disorders. However, in spite of this research, meditation as a therapeutic tool is still not widely recommended by traditional medical practitioners.
This set of articles will explore evidence for the use of meditation and its related forms of mind-body therapy to enhance mental function, including executive attention, enhanced awareness, and emotional regulation. It will also explore the effects of tai chi on enhanced motor function. Articles will include the underlying physiological and genetic parameters associated with these changes. Finally the scope will include papers on the barriers to acceptance of this research by the medical community, so that medical professionals more readily recommend these practices for patients with mental and emotional disorders known to be ameliorated by these practices.
We would like to cover in this article collection: 1. Efficacy of meditation and its related forms of mind-body therapy to enhance mental, emotional and physical function. 2. Efficacy of these therapies as a complementary medicine in improving recovery from mental/emotional disorders, such as ADHD, autism, depression, anxiety and Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD), cardiovascular disease, and immune function issues (including psoriasis and other auto-immune diseases). 3. Physiological and genetic changes associated with these improvements. 4. Barriers to incorporating these research results into medical practice, and how these may be overcome.
All type of articles may be submitted for this Research Topic.
This set of articles will explore evidence for the use of meditation and its related forms of mind-body therapy to enhance mental function, including executive attention, enhanced awareness, and emotional regulation. It will also explore the effects of tai chi on enhanced motor function. Articles will include the underlying physiological and genetic parameters associated with these changes. Finally the scope will include papers on the barriers to acceptance of this research by the medical community, so that medical professionals more readily recommend these practices for patients with mental and emotional disorders known to be ameliorated by these practices.
We would like to cover in this article collection: 1. Efficacy of meditation and its related forms of mind-body therapy to enhance mental, emotional and physical function. 2. Efficacy of these therapies as a complementary medicine in improving recovery from mental/emotional disorders, such as ADHD, autism, depression, anxiety and Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD), cardiovascular disease, and immune function issues (including psoriasis and other auto-immune diseases). 3. Physiological and genetic changes associated with these improvements. 4. Barriers to incorporating these research results into medical practice, and how these may be overcome.
All type of articles may be submitted for this Research Topic.
Keywords: Meditation, Tai Chi, complementary medicine, mindfulness, attention
Important Note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.
