Meditation Effectiveness

Please post links, articles or research studies related to the effectiveness of meditation in general.

Please post articles and links specific to prison dharma under the discussion entitled "prison dharma effectiveness."

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Permalink Reply by Kate Crisp (PDN Director) on November 24, 2008 at 12:55pm
Meditate on This: Buddhist Tradition Thickens Parts of the Brain
By LiveScience Staff

posted: 11 November 2005
Meditation alters brain patterns in ways that are likely permanent, scientists have known. But a new study shows key parts of the brain actually get thicker through the practice.Brain imaging of regular working folks who meditate regularly revealed increased thickness in cortical regions related to sensory, auditory and visual perception, as well as internal perception -- the automatic monitoring of heart rate or breathing, for example.

The study also indicates that regular meditation may slow age-related thinning of the frontal cortex."What is most fascinating to me is the suggestion that meditation practice can change anyone's gray matter," said study team member Jeremy Gray, an assistant professor of psychology at Yale. "The study participants were people with jobs and families. They just meditated on average 40 minutes each day, you don't have to be a monk."

The research was led by Sara Lazar, assistant in psychology at Massachusetts General Hospital. It is detailed in the November issue of the journal NeuroReport.The study involved a small number of people, just 20. All had extensive training in Buddhist Insight meditation. But the researchers say the results are significant.

Most of the brain regions identified to be changed through meditation were found in the right hemisphere, which is essential for sustaining attention. And attention is the focus of the meditation.Other forms of yoga and meditation likely have a similar impact on brain structure, the researchers speculate, but each tradition probably has a slightly different pattern of cortical thickening based on the specific mental exercises involved.
Permalink Reply by Kate Crisp (PDN Director) on November 24, 2008 at 12:59pm
Permalink Reply by Kate Crisp (PDN Director) on November 24, 2008 at 3:51pm
Time Magazine article on meditation..."How to Get Smarter, One Breath at a Time"
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Permalink Reply by Kate Crisp (PDN Director) on November 24, 2008 at 4:00pm
Reply by Janna on June 21, 2008 at 8:58pm (migrated from another page on this site)

Mind and Life Research Network's meditation research list.pdf

Members of this group may be interested to join the Mind and Life Research Network announcement list and/or discussion group

http://www.mindandlife.org/ml.research.network.htmlThe Mind and Life Research Network (MLRN) E-Mail Lists

MLRN has two lists to facilitate communication among contemplative practitioners, meditation researchers and interested partners who care about and support this important work.

The moderated Announcement List is for formal announcements. The unmoderated Discussion List is intended for informal discussion. In alignment with the mission of the Mind and Life Institute we aim to facilitate meditation research that respects both the scientific and contemplative traditions and the synergetic collaboration between third person and first person perspectives.

All scientific disciplines and fields are welcome to participate. The network has interest in all styles of meditation and contemplative practice.
To join the lists go to:

https://lists.wisc.edu/read/all_forums/>;;;
(for more complete info and instructions on joining, please see the "mindandlife" link above)
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Permalink Reply by Kate Crisp (PDN Director) on November 24, 2008 at 4:01pm
Reply by bruce michaels on June 22, 2008 at 2:14pm (migrated from another page on this site)

It doesn't surprise me that meditation changes the physical brain. I am more interested in what long periods of daily meditation over months and years of regular meditation does for me. I do know there is a big difference as to the setting of my meditation. There have been times after a retreat that I could feel the full power of my mind. When I have meditations with a group at my house it is much different then meditation by my self. Meditating with another long term Buddhist he was able to tell me that I was actually a sleep at different times during my meditation. I see meditation as what it is referred to as a practice. Just being about to do it regular for me is an accomplishment.
Permalink Reply by Kate Crisp (PDN Director) on November 24, 2008 at 4:02pm
Reply by Rev. Travis Eneix on May 7, 2008 at 12:16pm (migrated from another page on this site)

TED presentation on the effectiveness of meditation increasing happiness
http://youtube.com/watch?v=vbLEf4HR74E

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