Fwd: Meditation improves brain behavior.

[Guest guest]

wrote:

" Misty L. Trepke "

Tue, 04 Mar 2003 01:57:44 -0000

Meditation improves brain behavior.

 

 

 

WESTERN SCIENCE CONFIRMS EASTERN SPIRITUALITY

 

Recently, Western science has finally begun to confirm what

the wisdom traditions of the Orient have known for

millennia: that meditation practice literally and physically

improves your brain behavior.

 

Robert Felix, author of The Partners Within, has been

educating on the healing power of prayer and meditation to

overcome destructive emotions for the last decade. Now

several scientific studies are converging to confirm this

idea. As recently reported in the Wall Street Journal

Science column (1/10/2003), studies at the University of

Wisconsin confirmed that " meditation, Buddhist or otherwise,

might change the brain and, in particular, its emotional

circuitry. "

 

The focus of these studies was on the brain structure called

the amygdala. This is a little almond-shaped center that is

located deep in the brain and it has been shown to be

involved with the negative emotions as fear, anger, anxiety

and depression. This emotional center needs to be modulated

by the prefrontal cortex; when it is not, its negative

emotions can snowball into destructive behavior patterns.

The psychiatric community commonly treats these poor states

of mental health with neuroplastic drugs such as seratonin

uptake inhibitors (Prozac and Zoloft etc.) with mixed

success.

 

But now, according to Sharon Begley, placebo-controlled

clinical studies are suggesting, " Meditation strengthens

connections between the prefrontal cortex and the amygdala.

Inhibitory signals from the prefrontal cortex appear to rein

in the amygdala like a good yank on a kite string. The

stronger or more numerous those " stop firing! " signals, the

stronger the inhibition. " Indeed " It appears that the

inhibitory signal reaching the amygdala can be modulated

voluntarily, " says Prof. Richard Davidson, of the University

of Wisconsin.

 

Most importantly, Ms. Begley continues, " The plasticity of

connections between the thinking and feeling regions of the

brain casts doubt on the belief that each of us has a " set

point " for happiness, and that neither a Powerball win nor a

Sept. 11 tragedy budges it for long. If inhibitory

connections between the frontal lobes and the amygdala can

be strengthened in an enduring way, then perhaps you can

voluntarily shift that point. " Increasing our capacities for

happiness, fulfillment and for actualizing our own unique

human and higher powers.

 

***For more info, please see the Wall Street Journal article at:

http://wsj.emailthis.clickability.com/et/emailThis?

clickMap=viewThis & etMailToID=1390364541