The Relaxation Response: Therapeutic Effect
Abstract
Irwin and Jack Tessman (Letters, [24 Oct., p. 561][1]) write that there are discrepancies between my alleged publicizing of the therapeutic claims of the relaxation response and the published data. The data that they cite are in articles that I co-authored, but they compare these data with my
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Many meditation practices elicit physiological processes associated with the relaxation response (parasympathetic dominance), which is the physiological counter to the stress response (sympathetic dominance).
“Many meditation practices elicit physiological processes associated with the relaxation response (i.e., parasympathetic dominance), which is the physiological counter to the stress response (i.e., sympathetic dominance; Benson, 1997).”
From A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of the Effects of Meditation on Empathy, Compassion, and Prosocial Behaviors (2018) · cites this paper as Benson, 1997
Cited by
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Luberto, C. M., Shinday, N., Song, R., Philpotts, L. L., Park, E. R., Fricchione, G. L., & Yeh, G. Y. (2018) · Mindfulness · doi:10.1007/s12671-017-0841-8 · Cited by 346 · see citing works
Lutz, A., Greischar, L. L., Perlman, D. M., & Davidson, R. J. (2009) · NeuroImage · doi:10.1016/j.neuroimage.2009.04.081 · Cited by 199 · see citing works
Mind-Body Interventions in Oncology
Carlson, L. E., & Bultz, B. D. (2008) · Current Treatment Options in Oncology · doi:10.1007/s11864-008-0064-2 · Cited by 95 · see citing works
Tinnitus rehabilitation: a mindfulness meditation cognitive behavioural therapy approach
Sadlier, M., Stephens, S. D. G., & Kennedy, V (2008) · The Journal of Laryngology & Otology · doi:10.1017/s0022215107007438 · Cited by 70 · see citing works
- Authors
- Benson, H.
- Corresponding author
- Benson, H.
- Venue
- Science
- Published
- 1997-12-05
- Volume
- 278
- Issue
- 5344
- Pages
- 1693b-1697
- ISSN
- 0036-8075 (ISSN-L)
- 1095-9203
- OpenAlex
- W2009191888
- Cited by
- 50
- References
- 0
- Citations by year
- 2025: 1 · 2023: 3 · 2022: 1 · 2021: 1 · 2020: 1 · 2019: 1 · 2018: 2 · 2017: 3 · 2016: 1 · 2015: 2 · 2014: 2 · 2013: 4 · 2012: 1
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Science (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Mindfulness and Compassion Interventions
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Pain Management and Placebo Effect
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Psychotherapy Techniques and Applications
- Keywords
- relaxation response, therapeutic effects, relaxation training, scientific evidence, stress reduction
- MeSH terms
- Humans, Mental Healing, Relaxation Therapy
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