Researchers at the University of California, San Diego report that a week-long program that combines meditation with other mind-body techniques can quickly produce measurable changes in both brain activity and blood biology. The study found that these habits activate natural pathways involved in brain flexibility, metabolism, immune function, and pain relief. Published in communication biologythis finding provides new evidence that spiritual practices can have a significant impact on physical health.
Meditation and similar approaches have been used for thousands of years to support well-being, but scientists have struggled to explain exactly how they affect the body. This new study is part of a larger effort funded by the Inner Science Research Fund and is the first to systematically measure the combined biological effects of multiple mind-body techniques delivered over a short period of time.
“We’ve known for years that practices such as meditation can impact health, but what’s surprising is that combining multiple mind-body practices into a single retreat produces changes in so many biological systems that the brain and It can be measured directly in the blood,” said study lead author Dr. Hemal H. Patel, professor of anesthesiology at the University of California San Diego School of Medicine and career research scientist at the Department of Veterans Affairs San Diego Healthcare System. “This is not just about stress relief and relaxation. This is about fundamentally changing the way the brain interacts with reality, and biologically quantifying that change.”
7-day meditation program overview
The study followed 20 healthy adults who attended a seven-day residential retreat led by neuroscience educator and author Joe Dispenza in Washington, DC. Participants attended lectures and completed approximately 33 hours of guided meditation along with group-based healing activities.
These sessions used an “open label placebo” approach, where participants were aware that some practices were being presented as a placebo. Yet, such interventions can produce real effects through expectations, shared experiences, and social connections.
Before and after the retreat, the researchers monitored brain activity using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). Blood samples were also analyzed to track changes in metabolism, immune function, and other biological markers.
Observed brain, immune, and metabolic changes
After withdrawal, several notable changes were detected.
- Changes in brain networks: Activity in areas associated with internal mental chatter was reduced, suggesting more efficient brain function.
- Enhanced neuroplasticity: Plasma collected after the retreat promoted outgrowth and the formation of new connections in neurons cultured in the lab.
- Metabolic changes: Cells exposed to the treated plasma showed increased glycolytic (sugar burning) metabolism, indicating increased metabolic flexibility.
- Natural pain relief: Levels of endogenous opioids, the body’s natural painkillers, increased after the retreat.
- Immune activation: Both inflammatory and anti-inflammatory signals were increased, indicating a balanced adaptive immune response.
- Changes in genetic and molecular signaling: Small RNA and gene activity was altered in ways associated with brain-related biological pathways.
Mystical experiences related to brain connectivity
Participants also completed the Mystical Experience Questionnaire (MEQ-30), which measures feelings of oneness, transcendence, and altered consciousness during meditation. Scores increased from a mean of 2.37 before withdrawal to 3.02 after withdrawal.
Those who reported stronger mystical experiences also showed more pronounced biological changes, including greater coordination between different brain regions. This suggests that deeper subjective experiences may be linked to measurable changes in brain function.
Meditation and psychedelic brain states
The researchers found that the brain activity patterns observed after the retreat were very similar to those previously associated with psychedelic substances.
“We’re seeing the same mystical experiences and neural connectivity patterns that would normally require psilocybin, but now achieved solely through the practice of meditation,” Patel added. “Seeing both changes in the central nervous system and systemic changes in blood chemistry in brain scans confirms that these mind-body practices are working on a systemic scale.”
The findings help explain how non-drug approaches such as meditation can support overall health. These practices may improve emotional regulation, stress resilience, and mental health by increasing neuroplasticity and influencing immune activity. The proliferation of natural pain-relieving chemicals also shows potential applications in the management of chronic pain.
What comes next after mind-body research?
Although this study focused on healthy people, the researchers note that further research is needed to determine how these effects translate to clinical populations. Future research will investigate whether similar programs can help people with chronic pain, mood disorders, or immune-related diseases.
The team also plans to investigate how different elements of the retreat, such as meditation, reconceptualization, and open-label placebo healing, contribute individually and together. Another important question is how long these biological changes last and whether they can be strengthened or maintained through repeated practice.
“This study shows that our minds and bodies are deeply interconnected. What we believe, how we focus our attention, and the habits we participate in can leave a measurable imprint on our biology,” said lead author Alex Zinich Diamant, a doctoral student in the Department of Cognitive Sciences and Department of Anesthesiology at the University of California, San Diego. “This is an exciting step toward understanding how conscious experience and physical health are intertwined, and how that connection can be harnessed to promote well-being in new ways.”
Other co-authors of the study include Sierra Simpson, John P. Zuniga-Hartz, Ramamurthy Chitteti, Jean M. Schilling, Jacqueline A. Bonds, Laura Case, Andrei V. Chernoff, Natalia Esther Amky Stahl, Michael Ricamel, and Nalin Fazlaripour. Joe Dispenza and Michelle A. Poirier of Metamorphosis LLC; Jacqueline Maree and Tobias Moeller-Bertram of VitaMed Research; Leonardo Christophe Moore and Nikko Regente of the Institute for Advanced Consciousness.
This research was supported by the Inner Science Research Fund and a Veterans Administration Research Career Scientist Award (BX005229).
Disclosure: One of the co-authors (Joe Dispenza) is employed by Encephalon, Inc., a company that provides retreats. All other authors declare no competing interests.
