Seven-Day Meditation Retreat Triggers Broad Brain and Body Changes

A small, observational study of 20 adults at a seven-day meditation retreat found brain and blood changes: fMRI showed reduced activity in the default mode and salience networks and greater whole-brain integration; post-retreat plasma caused neurons in a dish to grow longer neurites; blood tests indicated metabolic, immune, and endogenous-opioid shifts; MEQ-30 scores rose, suggesting heightened mystical experiences akin to psychedelic effects, though causality can't be established due to lack of a control group; one co-author is the retreat's CEO, and researchers call for more rigorous, controlled studies to confirm these results.