Meditation can rapidly induce gene expression changes, altering the expression of around 500 different genes within the first few minutes.
"I'd read a study showing that there were gene expression changes that occurred after like the first five minutes of meditation. There was like 500 different genes were changing their gene expression" (said at 1:44:13)
Mind-body practices that elicit the relaxation response, including meditation, have been shown in exploratory transcriptome studies to induce rapid temporal gene expression changes in peripheral blood, but not within 'the first five minutes'. Key studies assessed genomic profiles after 8 weeks of training or following single sessions (measured immediately after and 15 minutes after a 20-minute relaxation practice or after multi-hour sessions), finding hundreds of differentially expressed genes related to metabolism, inflammation, and cellular stress. No published study demonstrates alteration in the expression of approximately 500 genes within five minutes of meditation.
- partial: Genomic counter-stress changes induced by the relaxation response. (PloS one 2008)
"2209 genes were differentially expressed in group M relative to group N(1) (p<0.05) and 1561 genes in group N(2) compared to group N(1) (p<0.05). Importantly, 433 (p<10(-10)) of 2209 and 1561 differentially expressed genes were shared among long-term (M) and short-term practitioners (N(2))." (abstract, results, passage verified)
pubmedfull study (doi) - partial: Relaxation response induces temporal transcriptome changes in energy metabolism, insulin s… (PloS one 2013)
"To assess rapid time-dependent (temporal) genomic changes during one session of RR practice among healthy practitioners with years of RR practice and also in novices before and after 8 weeks of RR training, we measured the transcriptome in peripheral blood prior to, immediately after, and 15 minutes after listening to an RR-eliciting or a health education CD." (abstract, results, passage verified)
pubmedfull study (doi)