The paper (Neurobiology of Chakras and Prayer
with Richard W. Maxwell, “The Physiological Foundation of Yoga Chakra Expression”;
and Ruth Stanley, “Types of Prayer, Heart Rate Variability, and Innate Healing”
THE PHYSIOLOGICAL FOUNDATION OF YOGA
CHAKRA EXPRESSION
by Richard W. Maxwell) interested me.
According to this paper the electrical synapses done by the gap junction may have concentrated in certain regions located in each level with the endocrine system together constitute the chakras in our body. These chakras have shown increased CNS function when activated and thus yogic practice is done through these. Fine, if chakras are the concentrated gap junction proteins what is kundalini shakthi???
This should be the electrical conductance which is activated at the base of spine and there may lie a balanced electrical conductivity from afferent and efferent nerves ?
Well this paper proposes " the kundalini is, in part, a
subjective representation of state changes among polar molecules within a
channel in the CNS rising from the filum terminale to the brain.In this framework, that channel (sushumna,
or sus’umna’ in Roman Sanskrit) is a column of gap junction linked cells
whose gap junctions open as the kundalini rises. The broader aspects of
the sushumna are a product of the glial syncytium extending through the
whole volume of the spine and brain. Meditation functions to increase the
prevalence of gap junctions and integrate compartments within the glial
network, ultimately allowing a full electrical unification of the spine and
brain." This sushumna (the CNS channel in the spinal cord also called brahmanadi) has great role in development of neural tube wherein gap junctions in it plays an important role.
even acupuncture is shown to concentrate gap junction proteins like connexins and pannexins but in less volume and area compared with the chakras with electrical conductance achieved.
The paper concludes saying,
"Physical systems related to a chakra have three
main aspects: a physical base that exists in the dorsal CNS, a concentration
point that is activating to that physical base, and influence of that physical
base over the activity of particular glandular secretions that have the potential
to bias mental function. With appropriate forms of concentration,
gap junction linkages in autonomic plexuses and elsewhere, typically subordinated
to chemical synaptic activity, may become activated (or regenerated)
and result in stimulation of important sites in the dorsal CNS.
Additionally, control over glandular functions may be susceptible to modulation
by gap junction mechanisms, presumably through autonomic nerves
Richard W. Maxwell 819
associated with these dorsal CNS sites. Identification of gap junctions within
the nervous system has had difficulties, and it is not likely to be easy to
find the proposed chakra centers within the CNS in animals or humans.
Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), or perhaps new technologies
such as functional near-infra-red spectrometry (fNIRS), together with
more refined electrophysiology could potentially yield signs of this underlying
physiology. If gap junctions are associated with chakra function, some
type of electrical signature should be present that could be identified. At
least one researcher has claimed to have identified electrophysiological signs
of chakra activity (Motoyama 1981). However, there is no evidence that
this work has been subjected to any peer review process."
Posts
We all know each and every organism has its own strategy to survive. Consider a deer is attacked by a lion, the instincts the brain creates by both the lion and deer and the memories it has , the molecular mechanism involved. I would like to know what would be the fundamental mechanism involved and which part of brain is involved which co ordinates the escape mechanism, the past experience (memory) and instinct.
