The direction of future research

In this excerpt from his thesis, Dr Ramesh Manohca discusses the direction of future research in the wake of his thesis.

The various potential mechanism put forward to support the idea of, and explanatory mechanisms for, a connection between mind and body are a rich source of hypotheses for future research projects. Importantly, brain imaging and neuro-, endo- and psycho-immunological studies of meditators promise to elucidate the neural and physiological mechanisms by which this relatively unique form of consciousness affects health. Generally speaking, biological research data elucidating the mechanisms by which constructs such as stress can impact on the physical body are an ideal starting point for the development of hypotheses.