Integrative Neuroscience for Sustainable Mental Health: The Role of Meditation in Medicine
Prof. Dr. Steven Laureys, a renowned neurologist and Canada Excellence Research Chair in Neuroplasticity at the University of Laval, as well as co-founder of BRAIN-NM Neuromodulation Clinics in Antwerp, will deliver an interactive keynote on how integrative neuroscience can lead the way toward sustainable mental health care. As Director of the Joint International Research Unit on Neuroplasticity between Laval University and the University of Liège, Dr. Laureys bridges advanced neuroscience with holistic approaches to mental health, emphasizing both biological and psychological resilience.
In his talk, Dr. Laureys will present scientific findings on non-pharmacological approaches to mental health, with a focus on techniques such as stress reduction, meditation, mindfulness, hypnosis, and sleep optimization. These methods have shown significant promise in enhancing mental well-being, not only in healthy individuals but also in those suffering from conditions such as anxiety, depression, insomnia, and chronic stress. He will also explore how lifestyle modifications, including better sleep patterns, physical activity, and dietary changes, can improve brain health and enhance neuroplasticity—the brain’s remarkable ability to reorganize and adapt.
Furthermore, the talk will highlight the role of non-invasive neuromodulation techniques, such as stereotactic and deep transcranial magnetic stimulation, in the fields of neurology, psychiatry, and neurorehabilitation. These advanced therapies are capable of modulating neural circuits involved in emotional regulation, mood, and cognition, offering new hope for the treatment of brain disorders with fewer side effects than traditional pharmacological treatments.
Dr. Laureys and his team advocate for a transformative shift in healthcare, one that integrates these advanced technological interventions with a participatory model, where patients and citizens take an active role in managing their mental well-being. By empowering individuals with tools like stress-reduction techniques, we can foster a new era of medicine—one that prioritizes prevention, patient-centered care, and long-term sustainability in mental health.
This integrative framework supports a vision of complementary medicine, where the latest advancements in medical and neuroplasticity research are combined with practices such as meditation and medical hypnosis. Dr. Laureys’ approach aims to merge highly specialized medical knowledge with a holistic understanding of the mind-body connection, ultimately moving toward a future where mental health care is both technologically sophisticated and deeply personalized, with the patient at its center.