Meditation And Science

In this article I focus on the attempts of science to unravel the mystery of that phenomenon called meditation. A number of serious researches, some of which lasted nearly 10 years show many interesting facts about the state of meditation and mind (brain) of the people meditating. As it turns out - the subjective perception of monks and Zen practitioners are measurable with modern technology ... No less interesting are the studies on the effects of meditation on the physical condition of people.
Meditation is a state of the mind and body in which the meditating person achieves Self-awareness, increasing the energy of the body, in many cases reaching enlightenment. That Experience in its extreme forms is often described as bordering on death. There are enough resources on the subject, including a variety of techniques to facilitate the entry in a meditative state so I will not continue with the explanations on this topic, but will concentrate on scientific facts.
Over the past 5-6 decades, not a few scientists - both from the West and the East began to show interest in Eastern culture, and meditation in particular, which is a key element in many Eastern traditions and religions. I will elaborate on several studies about the way the mind of the meditator is changing, and then on the studies showing a direct link between meditation and improvement of health.
Studies of brain-Davidson of meditators
Modern studies of brain function by EEG (electroencephalogram brain) has clearly shown the facts that are known meditators millennia - that through meditation can bring about a change in the functioning of the brain and a higher level of awareness. Researchers from the University of Wisconsin working with Tibetan monks managed to "translate" transcendental experiences in the language of science in the form of high-intensity gamma waves and brain synchrony promoted.
"What we found is that the longtime meditators showed brain activation on a scale never seen before." says Richard Davison, a scientist who specializes in the nervous system. "Their mental practice has an effect similar to the training of golfer - improves performance." This shows that the brain can be trained and physical structure - changed through meditation.
Until recently, scientists thought that connections between brain cells are formed at a young age and subsequently can not be changed. Only recent years, this view is changing, thanks to advances in technology to study the brain activity. Davidson actually move this idea one step further, effectively demonstrating that through meditation changes the internal mode of operation and connections in the brain.
Monk with EEG equipment
Himself experiment described briefly - Dalai Lama sends 8 of their best students to study and control group of 8 student nezanimavali with meditation before. Students Getting Past week course in meditation. After each of the monks and students associated with EEG sensors 256 and instructed to meditate focusing on "unconditional compassion" (note, etc., for lack of a better word for compassion).
The observed results of the instruments clearly show that the brains of monks differ significantly from those of the students. Electrodes recorded more intensity and extremely gamma rays and also that their movement and coordination in the brains of monks is much more coordinated and organized. Novices in meditation showed only slightly higher gamma activity, while some of the monks involved between 15 and 40 years of meditation showed values ​​much higher than those measured in healthy person ever.
Monks in practice most, and had the highest levels of gamma waves. This reaction of "dose" meditation is exactly what I was looking scientists. In other previous studies, mental activities such as focus, memory, learning and consciousness are associated with this particular type of improvement Nervous coordination, which is observed in the monks. According to Davidson, the results of the study showed that meditation has a lasting effect on the brain of the practitioner as before to enter a state of meditation Tibetans showed significantly greater range of activity than the control group.
Experiment University of Tokyo
Dr. Akira Kasamatsu and Dr. Tommy Hirai back in 1963 conducted an experiment with Zen monks that shows something very interesting - their brain is more aware on environmental For middle and can not be called. "Tolerance", as opposed to the brains of non-practitioners. EEG studies reveal that 90 seconds after the beginning of meditation begins rhythmic slowing brain activity, known as alpha waves. This delay happens with open eyes and increases the progression of meditation until the 30th minute alpha waves are 7-8 in the second (7-8 Hz). The effect continues nyakoko minutes after meditation.
What is remarkable is that this EEG picture is radically different from the wave sleep, walking, and hypnotic trance consciousness of people who do not progress in meditation. Another interesting observation reported that the evaluation of the Zen Master to the progress of his pupil corresponds fully with EEG picture.
Going back to the "addiction" and called. "alpha blocking" or stop aflatoxin waves. Imagine a man reading a book quietly, who suddenly disturbed by a loud sound. If the same sound is repeated after a few seconds his attention will still be distracted, but not for so long. If the sound is repeated at fixed intervals man eventually starts to ignore it.
EEG of non-meditators detect alpha waves as described above while hearing his system is stimulated. At the first sound average blocking alpha waves is 7 seconds. When Zen master - only 2 seconds. If the sound is repeated every 15 seconds, a normal person ceases to have alpha blocking average after fifth iteration. This reduction of alpha-blocking is called "habituation" and was seen in all normal people, if the sound continues to be repeated at fixed intervals.
In the Zen masters, however no addiction. Alpha blocking them is 2 seconds at the first sound, 2 seconds in fifth and 2 seconds in 20th. This indicates that the Zen masters have a higher awareness of the environment as a result of meditative practices.
Meditation in medicine - effects of meditation on physical problems and diseases
Over 200 hospitals in the U.S. to offer its traditional treatment methods and called. MBSR program (English Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction - decrease stress through self-awareness). Essentially, the program is training in meditation. Benefits include the regulation of blood pressure and cholesterol, relieving pain, reducing stress and tendency to depression, regulation of sleep.
In one of these hospitals group of American scientists decided to find out whether meditation will affect melatonin levels in women. This hormone is extremely important biomolecule with multiple effects on the body. It inhibits the development of tumors, protects cells from DNA mutations, strengthens the immune system, helps with (incurable) psoriasis and many others.
Melatonin is synthesized in the pineal gland under the influence of sunlight. According to the great philosopher and mathematician Descartes in this gland (the third eye or the 6th chakra ajna of yogis) is the soul and spirit there is associated with the psyche whose physical expression is the brain. For scientists, however, the question is only whether the practice of meditation will increase the synthesis of melatonin as a means to fight breast cancer and prostate cancer.
The answer is positive. In women who meditate, significantly more melatonin has been synthesized than in those who do not meditate. This discovery opens the doors for the prevention and treatment of cancer - patients with such a disease who meditate really live longer. Intriguingly, the meditation causes the synthesis of melatonin, which is considered to be possible only under the influence of sunlight.
Numerous other studies have shown that meditation increases the levels of the hormone vasopressin, improves memory, reduces stress and the stress hormone levels of cortisol and increases points of IQ by an average of 2 years practice. Meditation as a rule increases the levels of endorphins and serotonin, which have an enormous beneficial impact on our health.
Perhaps the most impressive study up to date, found that meditation even positively changes the functioning of our genes. The effect will generally be reflected in an increase in the antioxidant capacity of the body, which stimulates the immune system, delays aging and prevents cancer.
In 2003, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), one of the most renowned research institutes in the world, held a two-day scientific meeting on Neurology. Moreover, besides the scientists who were present there, there was a group of Buddhist monks led by the Dalai Lama himself. As the neuroscientist Francisco Valera said: "They have studied the brain for 2500 years, and we have been doing this for only a few decades. Certainly they have something to teach us.