Ketosis with enhanced GABAergic tone promotes physiological changes in transcendental meditation


Author: Elias AN//Guich S//Wilson AF

Affiliation: Department of Medicine, University of California at Irvine, California 92868, USA
Conference/Journal: Med Hypotheses
Date published: 2000 
Other:
 Volume ID: 54   ,  Issue ID: 4   ,  Pages: 660-2   ,  Word Count: 93  
    Transcendental meditation (TM) is a stylized form of physical and mental relaxation which is associated with changes in the secretion and release of several pituitary hormones. The hormonal changes induced by TM mimic the effects of the inhibitory neurotransmitter gamma aminobutyric acid (GABA). It is hypothesized that TM produces changes in pituitary hormone secretion by enhancing hypothalamic GABAergic tone as a result of TM associated ketosis. Ketosis enhances the entry of glutamate, the amino acid substrate of GABA into synaptosomes, making more glutamate available for conversion to GABA through the glutamate decarboxylase pathway.