Enhancement of Meditation Analgesia by Opioid Antagonist in Experienced Meditators.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

Studies have consistently shown that long-term meditation practice is associated with reduced pain, but the neural mechanisms by which long-term meditation practice reduces pain remain unclear. This study tested endogenous opioid involvement in meditation analgesia associated with long-term meditation practice.

Methods

Electrical pain was induced with randomized, double-blind, cross-over administration of the opioid antagonist naloxone (0.15-mg/kg bolus dose, then 0.2-mg/kg per hour infusion dose) with 32 healthy, experienced meditation practitioners and a standardized open monitoring meditation.

Results

Under saline, pain ratings were significantly lower during meditation (pain intensity: 6.41 ± 1.32; pain unpleasantness: 3.98 ± 2.17) than at baseline (pain

SUBMITTER: May LM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6162167 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Nov/Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature