Mind-body Relationship Research Articles

Anxiety - Unlocking the Dynamics and Management in Ayurveda

Ayurveda has the most ingenious approach to achieve complete health as it doesn’t leave any domain unattained, especially mental health. Rajas & Tamas Manas Dosha are responsible for all the psychic disorders including Anxiety which is usually characterized by hyperactivity, state of excessive worry, fear and poor decision-making ability. Its psychopathology affects humans on somatic level as well. Mental health concerns touch most people’s lives directly or indirectly, it can affect a person’s work productivity, their personal and professional lives and in severe cases destroy their quality of life. Ayurveda takes two approaches Drug therapy like use of Medhya Rasayan, through internal as well as external method which enhances the function of intellect & non-drug therapy like Aachar Rasayan, Satwavajaya Chikitsa & Yoga therapy. Anxiety is more chronic as it often overshadowed by other health conditions like GIT problems. Hence exploring presenting problem involving mind-body relationship and finding a synergistic solution is the need of the hour, to reduce the stigma associated with it, by understanding Anxiety in depth from Ayurveda’s point of view.

Mind-body medicine and altered states of consciousness in Homo

The mind-body relationship has long been a subject of inquiry from both philosophical and scientific perspectives. Ancient Greek philosophers such as Pythagoras and Plato posited dualistic models, where the mind and body are distinct substances. In contrast, modern approaches in Mind-Body Medicine (MBM) offer integrative models that emphasize the interconnectedness of mental and physical states and the proactive role of the patient in their own healing process. This review examines the evolutionary roots of altered states of consciousness (ASC) as a precursor to current MBM techniques. By tracing ASC to early hominins and their cognitive development, it posits that the ability to enter various ASC—such as those used in rituals, meditation, and other mind-body practices—provided evolutionary advantages, influencing both individual fitness and social cohesion. Moreover, this review discusses tonic immobility in animals as a survival mechanism and explores parallels in human and non-human primate behaviors involving ASC. Additionally, neurochemical pathways that govern ASC, such as serotonergic and dopaminergic regulation, are explored for their roles in promoting social behaviors, cognitive flexibility, and emotional regulation. Furthermore, the role of the default mode network is investigated in relation to psychotropic and mood altering substances and altered states of consciousness. This integrated perspective offers new insights into the origins of MBM and underscores the significance of ASC in both evolutionary and contemporary contexts.

Précis: The Mind-Body Politic

The Mind-Body Politic is a study in the new discipline of political philosophy of mind, that aims to develop an embodied and enactive theory of social institutions, building on our 2009 study of the mind-body relation and mental causation, Embodied Minds in Action. In this sequel, we distinguish between (i) destructive, deforming social institutions–characteristic of contemporary neoliberal nation-states, and (ii) constructive, enabling social institutions, and defend what we call the mindshaping thesis and the enactive-transformative principle. The upshot is an activist, transformative philosophical theory.

Artificial Intelligence’s Novel “Mind-Reading” Capabilities through Neuroscience: A Challenge for Mind-Body Dualism?

This paper explores a philosophical problem at the intersection of neuroscience and artificial intelligence (AI), and the potential impact of these novel AI “mind-reading” technologies on various forms of mind–body dualism, including substance, interaction, property, predicate, and emergent dualisms. It critically examines how AI’s ability to interpret and predict mental states from neural patterns challenges traditional dualistic theories, which have historically posited distinct relationships between the mind and body. The paper analyzes each dualistic theory in the context of AI advancements. Substance and interaction dualisms are scrutinized for their claims of mind–body independence and causal interaction, respectively, in light of AI’s capabilities to correlate mental and physical states. Property dualism’s assertion of unique mental properties emerging from physical processes is tested against AI’s potential to map mental phenomena to brain activity. Predicate dualism’s linguistic and conceptual distinction between mental and physical realms is challenged by AI’s ability to bridge these domains. Similarly, emergent dualism, which views mental states as novel phenomena, confronts the possibility of their reduction to physical brain processes. Despite these challenges, the paper argues for the adaptability of dualistic theories to integrate AI insights, suggesting a re-evaluation rather than a negation of dualism. It highlights the enduring relevance of philosophical inquiry into the nature of consciousness and mind–body relationships in the age of AI, suggesting that such technological advancements invigorate rather than terminate the philosophical debate.

Using Creatures of Flight to Explore the Mind-Body Relationship and Transcendence in Emily Dickinson’s Poetry

Using Creatures of Flight to Explore the Mind-Body Relationship and Transcendence in Emily Dickinson’s Poetry

The Reconsecration of the Self: A Qualitative Analysis of Sex Trafficking Survivors' Experience of the Body.

The understudied bodily harm women experience after commercial sex (CS) may be partially explained by the prominence of Cartesian mind-body dualism in psychological science. Accordingly, we qualitatively explored the mind-body relationship among 79 female sex trafficking survivors. Survivors reported long-term negative alterations in feelings about the body, sex, and physical touch posttrafficking and these negative outcomes did not differ across women who self-perceived as consenting and women who self-perceived as forced. Implications for future research are presented, particularly on measuring dehumanization in CS which contributes to extensive harm even in the absence of physical aggression.

“What do I stand for?” - A phenomenological account of an identity crisis in the climate classroom

This single-participant idiographic study examines the implications of a student’s identity crisis in the climate classroom through the lens of existential phenomenology. The study analyses the ontological sense-making process of a mixed-race, bisexual female student reckoning with the racial dimensions of climate change during an environmental course in a liberal arts college in the Netherlands. By delving into the ontological implications of the participant’s experience of the course, the analysis shows that environmental education can meaningfully impact the mind-body relationship and self-identification of students with marginalized identities. The findings challenge some of the assumptions of popular frameworks for understanding marginalization in environmental education, like intersectionality, and post-humanist perspectives. The authors conclude that attending to human sense-making in environmental education can benefit students with marginalized identities by grounding environmental education in practices that make space for these identities.

Folie et Société: eroding the body-mind relationship via dysfunctional paternalistic systems.

This theoretical perspective examines the proposition of shared complex trauma between a parent and child, arising from blurred relational boundaries and societal oppression, leading to inequality both at home and within the larger paternalistic system of society. Specifically, the focus is on living within a paternalistic, authoritarian system where rules are unjust, demanding obedience and compliance without questioning the behaviors of the authority. Individuals growing up in these circumstances are subject to adverse and emotionally overwhelming experiences, which lead to the creation of emotional memory images (EMIs). The delusion in which the child is caught up becomes a reality for the child as time passes. This phenomenon is recognized in psychiatry as "Folie à deux" (the madness of two or more) at the micro level, and "Folie et Société" (the madness of society) on the macro level. Complex trauma, derived from a child's exposure to multiple adverse events, can erode the mind-body relationship, impacting both mental and physical health. These traumatic experiences in early childhood can manifest as body-focused disorders in adolescents, prevailing throughout adulthood if left unattended. This article provides a theoretical perspective on dealing with the dissociation and chronic stress related to oppressive and authoritarian family systems. The broader implications of this article include highlighting the psychophysiological underpinnings of complex trauma, the relationship of a highly oppressive paternalistic authoritarian system imposed on children and adolescents, and the role of Split-Second Unlearning as a therapeutic intervention to clear EMIs and improve overall health outcomes.

Efeitos de exercícios mente-corpo em uma paciente com transtorno de humor: um relato de caso

ABSTRACT Introduction The rationale of this case study was to evaluate a subject with anxiety and depression under treatment for anxiety and depression with significant bodily symptoms and physical illness, configuring also a psychosomatic condition. We investigated a new protocol of mind-body exercise (MBE) and its effects on the body-mind relationship through qualitative and quantitative analysis Case Report M.S., 47 years old, diagnosed with depression, anxiety, and several other illnesses and physical complaints, was submitted a weekly seven sessions of MBE. After that, anxiety, depression, and interoception were evaluated. Moreover, affect and arousal scales were administered after each session. Discussion Improvements were identified in all dimensions of interoception, with more pronounced results in not-distracting (pre: 4/ post: 0,25), emotional awareness (pre: 1,6/ post: 5), self-regulation (pre: 2,29/ post: 4,29) and trusting (pre: 0/ post: 4), in addition to reducing symptoms of depression (pre: 17/ post: 14) and anxiety (pre: 29/ post: 24) and increase for positive affect (pre:2,2 ± 3,0/post: 3,6 ± 1,7) e arousal (pre:4,5 ± 1,9/post: 5,9 ± 0,4). Conclusion We conclude that MBE improved interoceptive ability and reduced symptoms of anxiety and depression. Through these perceived and reported changes, the patient was able to learn to deal with stress and anxiety and self-regulate.

Ultra-overt therapy: a novel medical approach centered on patient consciousness.

Within the realms of human and artificial intelligence, the concepts of consciousness and comprehension are fundamental distinctions. In the clinical sphere, patient awareness regarding medication and its physiological processes plays a crucial role in determining drug efficacy and outcomes. This article introduces a novel perspective on prescription practices termed "Ultra-Overt Therapy" (UOT). A review of current supporting evidence was conducted through a non-systematic search in PubMed and Google Scholar, focusing on concepts such as the "mind-body relationship," "placebo response," "neuroscience," and "complementary medicine." Our findings, rooted in the mechanisms of the "placebo effect," the intricacies of "intersubjective therapy," the potency of "interoceptive awareness," and other domains of medical science, suggest that UOT holds theoretical promise. Future research endeavors focusing on these areas may elucidate the global impact of this method on medical treatment and patient care.

Estimation of Temperamental Changes in Female Teachers with Subclinical Hypothyroid Dysfunction - A Retrospective Observational Study

Background It has been observed that changes in blood biochemistry has a simultaneous reflection in temperamental shifts and mood alterations concurrently. This study was undertaken to establish an existence of such relationship in an alarmingly increasing cases of hypothyroidism in middle aged females. Objective To estimate an existence of relationship between physical signs amp symptoms of subclinical hypothyroid dysfunction SHD and simultaneous changes in temperamental behavior in middle aged female teachers which can possibly open new avenues for interventional homoeopathic approach.Methods A pilot study was undertaken to screen the subjects for SHD using Zulewiskirsquos standardized clinical scale for hypothyroidism at AM Shaikh Group of Institutions and schools in and around Nehru Nagar Belagavi. The subjects diagnosed with clinical SHD on the rating scale were provided with self-designed open-ended questionnaire to estimate temperamental changes.Results A total of 313 female teachers aged between 30-44 years were provided with the Zulewskirsquos rating scale. The 94 subjects who were found to have clinical SHD on the scale were provided with self-designed open-ended questionnaire to elicit changes in temperamental behavior. It was found that 83 subjects had distinct temperamental changes of which 21 subjects were of nervous temperament 17 were of bilious temperament 34 were phlegmatic while 11 were of sanguinous temperament based on HA Robertrsquos Temperaments.Conclusion From this study it can be concluded that the individuals with hypothyroidism are more frequently predisposed to having phlegmatic temperament thereby substantiating a definite mind-body relationship.

"Close your eyes and relax": the role of hypnosis in reducing anxiety, and its implications for the prevention of cardiovascular diseases.

Anxiety is the most common form of mental health disorder, affecting millions of people worldwide. Psychosocial interventions such as mindfulness and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) have been suggested as an effective treatment in the management of general anxiety and anxiety disorders, with emerging evidence also suggesting the effectiveness of hypnosis. Moreover, anxiety has shown to be linked to the onset and development of several cardiovascular diseases (CVD), which are the leading cause of global death. In this paper, we review the current literature to examine the role that anxiety has on the onset and development of CVD and summarize the current knowledge on the role that hypnosis and hypnotherapy have in reducing anxiety, also explaining how this can impact the cardiovascular system and the prevention of CVD. Review of the evidence suggests that hypnosis and hypnotherapy are effective in treating anxiety and may positively affect the heart and the cardiovascular system, reducing sympathetic activation and increasing parasympathetic tone, potentially preventing the onset of CVD related to increased sympathetic activation. However, further studies are required to further understand how hypnosis and hypnotherapy affect the cardiovascular system through investigation of the neurophysiological components of the hypnotic state and of the mind-body relationship. Healthcare systems should embed mental health screening in patients at risk of developing CVD as part of the clinical pathway and consider the role that hypnosis and hypnotherapy may play in the management of CVD.

Surviving Death, Again

The paper begins by briefly engaging critically—on theological grounds—with Dean Zimmerman’s defense of Peter van Inwagen’s Christian Materialist idea that we are identical with our bodies, and so survive bodily death by not actually undergoing bodily death. Next, I consider the view of the mind-body relation that Dean himself is tempted by, namely Emergent Substance Dualism, arguing that it is best seen as a fig leaf that at most works to avoid offending contemporary anti-theistic “traducian” sensibilities. In displacing Emergent Substance Dualism, I set out a Neo-Aristotelian account of essence and embodiment that allows for—indeed entails—the possibility of our surviving the death of our bodies. Along the way a characterization of ontological reductionism is given, which avoids the incoherent thought that reduction goes by way of identity. The characterization makes evident why mental events and states are not reducible to physical events. Finally, two non-reductive relations between mental and physical events, namely subserving and implementing, are defined, and then used to characterize the relation of embodiment, and explain how certain mental acts can be “difference-makers” in the physical realm. I only aim to show that given the manifest failure of psycho-physical ontological reduction, this new account of survival adds no further mystery to the mind-body problem.

Psychedelics and critical theory

AbstractIn the monograph Philosophy and Psychedelics: Frameworks for Exceptional Experience, Hauskeller raises the important subject of individualization and alienation in psychedelic psychotherapy. Under the prevailing conditions of neoliberalism, Hauskeller contends that psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy appropriates Indigenous knowledges in an oppressive fashion, may be instrumentalised to the ends of productivity gain and symptom suppression, and may be utilised to mask societal systems of alienation. Whilst offering a valuable socio-political critique of psychedelics' clinical uptake, we suggest that Hauskeller's view does not adequately acknowledge the ways in which psychedelics offer a challenge to the Western reductive bio-medical understanding of healing and wellbeing. It is contended herein that Indigenous knowledges, in alliance with a range of emerging sciences, offer both an engagement with ethnomedicines in a less harmfully appropriative fashion, and a renewed understanding of the means by which psychedelics achieve therapeutic change. With this understanding, what becomes apparent are the potential ways in which psychedelic medical usage may produce positive feedback upon the oppressive systems in which we are embedded. That is, transpersonal experience through encounters with the ineffable may offer a revisioning of Western psychology and cognitive science. Indeed, if psychedelics are approached with an understanding of the actual means by which they produce therapeutic outcomes—changing mental representations of the self, or self-insight derived through non-ordinary states of consciousness—then psychedelic psychotherapy offers a reimagining of psychiatric nosology, challenging conventional understandings of both pathology and wellbeing through an overturning of specified and discrete deficit models of psychopathology. This may provide both a critique of the prevailing categories used to describe madness and an expansion of our understanding of the mind-body relation, as well as an increased recognition of positive psychology grounded in cross-cultural contemplative traditions. This provides an implicit challenge to the pharmaceutical industrial-complex and its profit motives; and the corresponding neoliberalist, globalising tendencies which Hauskeller seeks to address.

Fibromialgia

Fibromyalgia (FM) is a disease whose main feature is chronic generalized pain of idiopathic origin as well as fatigue, sleep disorders, and neurological symptoms. Despite its high prevalence, FM continues to pose diagnostic and therapeutic challenges for health professionals. FM develops due to multiple unique factors that include a genetic predisposition, personal experiences, emotional and cognitive factors, the mind-body relationship, and the biopsychological ability to cope with stress. Its variable nature and symptoms together with associated comorbidities make it difficult to reach an early diagnosis. The diagnostic criteria are still a matter of debate and the lack of specific tests and pathognomonic pathologies of the disease contribute to the lack of precise diagnosis. Given that the pathogenesis and continuation of this condition involve multiple components, a multimodal treatment approach is required. Despite the availability of various treatments, its management remains a challenge. An effective treatment approach should be personalized and multidisciplinary. Goals should be realistic and prioritize maintaining or improving function, improving quality of life, and managing symptoms.

Tracing the smells of childhoods with an olfactory research inquiry

This paper proposes a multi-method olfactory inquiry to document the rich ways in which children's sense of smell is embodied and embedded in an interplay of senses and socio-spatial relationships. I approach olfaction as a conceptual strategy and connect it to socio-material and socio-spatial theories to illustrate the ways in which close empirical attention to olfaction can provide new insights into children's sensory experiences. An olfactory research inquiry rests on traditional (e.g. SmellMaps and SmellLogs) and speculative (e.g. Ododata and Olfactoscapes) olfactory techniques that invite adults’ and children's agentic responses to odours through relational, dynamic, and non-linguistic modes. As a critical sub-methodology of sensory inquiries, olfactory inquiry can help us re-think normative, homogenizing, mind-body relations in early childhood research and practice.

“Semantic Dualism” and the Role of the Body in Emotional Experience

Mun’s proposed taxonomy of theories of emotions highlights important commonalities and differences among a wide range of philosophical and psychological accounts and provides an astute mapping of the theoretical landscape. My critical comments focus primarily on the metaphysical account of the mind-body relation that Mun presents, and the implications of this “semantic dualist” account for three of the book’s central topics: (1) conscious experience, (2) underived intentionality, and (3) what it means to provide an embodied cognitive theory of emotions.

An Exploration of the Effects of Gene-Editing Technology on Human Identity

An Exploration of the Effects of Gene-Editing Technology on Human Identity

The Role and Effect of Ancient Chinese Philosophy and Psychology Theory on the Development of Chinese Psychology

At present, the techniques and methodologies of modern psychology that are more used in China are more products of the system of Western countries. This shows from the side that we still have a lot of deficiencies in our understanding and application of our own philosophy and psychology culture, but in certain moments and environmental contexts, we have no way to deny that the substitution of ancient philosophy and psychology from China into our country's national conditions often makes the problem easier to understand and be dealt with. For example, the "Book of Poems", "Zhouyi", "Book of Shang" and other early classical literary and historical chronicles, which clearly record many psychological ideas about human body-mind relationship, self-awareness, group psychology, and individual psychological processes. I think that as Chinese psychologists in the 21st century, we should learn more about the ancient philosophical texts from our country through the comparison and integration of modern western psychology and Western modern and ancient philosophy, and finally summarize the modernized psychological methodology under China's own unique Oriental system. From the perspective of inductance, human beings' ability to sense and detect a large amount of natural information is still insufficient, and it has become a fetters for the prediction of natural disasters such as earthquakes and the broader development of future predictability. Even I personally think that maybe we are blinded by the continuity and universality of science. The development of science and technology depends more on the calculation of the combination of numbers and logic. Although this is reasonable, when more unreasonable things appear, it will make it difficult for humans to get out of the original thinking mode, which leads to this type of thing becoming an eternal unknown in human society.

Is psyche-soma dichotomy still clinically appropriate?

This article proposes a historical recontextualisation of the mind-body relationship and offers some evidence-based reflections on the current clinical appropriateness of psyche-soma dichotomy and psychosomatics. The debate concerning the mind-body relationship has a long medical, philosophical, and religious history, with psyche-soma dichotomy and psychosomatics alternating as the dominant clinical approach, depending on the prevalence of cultural orientations at different times. However, both models simultaneously benefit and limit the clinical practice.The neurosciences have reduced the gap between psyche and soma diseases, which can now be seen as overlapping and sharing a common pathogenesis. Diseases should also be considered as illnesses by considering all of their biopsychosocial aspects to avoid therapeutic failures due to only partially effective or ineffective interventions. Patient-centred care integrated with guideline recommendations may be the best means of uniting the psyche and the soma.