Mind & Life Quinn Conklin – Mind-Body Connection
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Oct 17, 2024 Quinn Conklin, a health psychologist and meditation researcher, dives into the intriguing interplay between mind and body. She discusses how stress affects telomeres and aging while highlighting the role of meditation in health and well-being. The conversation spans her experiences with silent meditation retreats, the impact of personality on meditation outcomes, and the complexities of oxytocin in social connections. Quinn also reflects on adapting research during the COVID-19 pandemic and the importance of inclusivity in contemplative practices.
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Path to Meditation Research
- Conklin's first meditation class in New Zealand provided a sense of peace during personal distress.
- A series of chance encounters and introductions led her to connect with Cliff Saron, her PhD mentor, at a contemplative studies symposium.
Retreat Research: Advantages and Challenges
- Long-term meditation retreats offer a unique research context with high dosage and a controlled environment.
- Challenges include designing comparable control groups and the limited participant pool due to time and resource constraints.
Personality and Meditation Effects
- Personality influences meditation's effects on biomarkers like telomere length and oxytocin levels.
- Openness to experience predicts increases in telomere length and reductions in oxytocin during retreats.