Meditate To Concentrate

[Guest guest]

Meditate To Concentrate

Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania say that practicing

even small doses of daily meditation may improve focus and

performance.

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/06/070625193240.htm

Researchers found that even for those new to the practice,

meditation enhanced performance and the ability to focus attention.

Meditation, according to Penn neuroscientist Amishi Jha and

Baime, director of Penn's Stress Management Program, is an active

and effortful process that literally changes the way the brain

works. Their study is the first to examine how meditation may

modify the three subcomponents of attention, including the ability

to prioritize and manage tasks and goals, the ability to voluntarily

focus on specific information and the ability to stay alert to the

environment.

In the Penn study, subjects were split into two categories. Those

new to meditation, or " mindfulness training, " took part in an eight-

week course that included up to 30 minutes of daily meditation. The

second group was more experienced with meditation and attended an

intensive full-time, one-month retreat.

Researchers found that even for those new to the practice,

meditation enhanced performance and the ability to focus attention.

Performance-based measures of cognitive function demonstrated

improvements in a matter of weeks. The study, to be published in

the journal Cognitive, Affective, & Behavioral Neuroscience,

suggests a new, non-medical means for improving focus and cognitive

ability among disparate populations and has implications for

workplace performance and learning.

Participants performed tasks at a computer that measured response

speeds and accuracy. At the outset, retreat participants who were

experienced in meditation demonstrated better executive functioning

skills, the cognitive ability to voluntarily focus, manage tasks and

prioritize goals. Upon completion of the eight-week training,

participants new to meditation had greater improvement in their

ability to quickly and accurately move and focus attention, a

process known as " orienting. " After the one-month intensive

retreat, participants also improved their ability to keep

attention " at the ready. "

The results suggest that meditation, even as little as 30 minutes

daily, may improve attention and focus for those with heavy demands

on their time. While practicing meditation may itself may not be

relaxing or restful, the attention-performance improvements that

come with practice may paradoxically allow us to be more relaxed.

The research was supported by the National Institutes of Health and

the Penn Stress Management Program.