Scientists probe meditation secrets

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Scientists probe meditation secrets

By Naomi Law

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/7319043.stm

There is evidence that meditation changes brain structures

Scientists are beginning to uncover evidence that meditation has a

tangible effect on the brain.

Sceptics argue that it is not a practical way to try to deal with the

stresses of modern life.

But the long years when adherents were unable to point to hard

science to support their belief in the technique may finally be

coming to an end.

When Carol Cattley's husband died it triggered a relapse of the

depression which had not plagued her since she was a teenager.

" I instantly felt as if I wanted to die, " she said. " I couldn't think

of what else to do. "

Carol sought medical help and managed to control her depression with

a combination of medication and a psychological treatment called

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy.

However, she believes that a new, increasingly popular course called

Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) - which primarily consists

of meditation - brought about her full recovery.

It is currently available in every county across the UK, and can be

prescribed on the NHS.

One of the pioneers of MBCT is Professor Mark , from the

Department of Psychiatry at the University of Oxford.

He helps to lead group courses which take place over a period of

eight weeks. He describes the approach as 80% meditation, 20%

cognitive therapy.

New perspective

He said: " It teaches a way of looking at problems, observing them

clearly but not necessarily trying to fix them or solve them.

" It suggests to people that they begin to see all their thoughts as

just thoughts, whether they are positive, negative or neutral. "

MBCT is recommended for people who are not currently depressed, but

who have had three or more bouts of depression in their lives.

Trials suggest that the course reduces the likelihood of another

attack of depression by over 50%.

Professor believes that more research is still needed.

He said: " It is becoming enormously popular quite quickly and in many

ways we now need to collect the evidence to check that it really is

being effective. "

However, in the meantime, meditation is being taken seriously as a

means of tackling difficult and very modern challenges.

Scientists are beginning to investigate how else meditation could be

used, particularly for those at risk of suicide and people struggling

with the effects of substance abuse.

What is meditation?

Meditation is difficult to define because it has so many different

forms.

By meditating, you can become happier, you can concentrate more

effectively and you can change your brain in ways that support that

Dr son

Broadly, it can be described as a mental practice in which you focus

your attention on a particular subject or object.

It has historically been associated with religion, but it can also be

secular, and exactly what you focus your attention on is largely a

matter of personal choice.

It may be a mantra (repeated word or phrase), breathing patterns, or

simply an awareness of being alive.

Some of the more common forms of meditative practices include

Buddhist Meditation, Mindfulness Meditation, Transcendental

Meditation, and Zen Meditation.

The claims made for meditation range from increasing immunity,

improving asthma and increasing fertility through to reducing the

effects of aging.

Limited research

Research into the health claims made for meditation has limitations

and few conclusions can be reached, partly because meditation is

rarely isolated - it is often practised alongside other lifestyle

changes such as diet, or exercise, or as part of group therapy.

So should we dismiss it as quackery? Studies from the field of

neuroscience suggest not.

It is a new area of research, but indications are intriguing and

suggest that meditation may have a measurable impact on the brain.

In Boston, Massachusetts, Dr Sara Lazar has used a technique called

MRI scanning to analyse the brains of people who have been meditating

for several years.

She compared the brains of these experienced practitioners with

people who had never meditated and found that there were differences

in the thickness of certain areas of the brain's cortex, including

areas involved in the processing of emotion.

She is continuing research, but she believes that meditation had

caused the brain to change physical shape.

Buddhist monks

In Madison, Wisconsin, Dr son has been carrying out

studies on Buddhist monks for several years.

His personal belief is that " by meditating, you can become happier,

you can concentrate more effectively and you can change your brain in

ways that support that. "

In one study he observed the brains of a group of office workers

before and after they undertook a course of meditation combined with

stress reduction techniques.

At the end of the course the participants' brains seemed to have

altered in the way they functioned.

They showed greater activity in the left-hand side - a characteristic

which son has previously linked to happiness and enthusiasm.

This idea that meditation could improve the wellbeing of everyone,

even those not struggling with mental illness, is something that is

exciting researchers.

Professor believes it has huge potential.

" It involves dealing with expectations, with constantly judging

ourselves - feeling we're not good enough, " he said.

" And, that is something which is so widespread in our communities.

" All of these things are just thoughts. And, they will come up in

meditation and learning to recognize what they are as thoughts, and

let them go, can be enormously empowering for anybody. "

There is, of course, a distinct possibility that this research will

come to nothing and that interest in meditation will turn out to be a

passing fad, but for now this ancient discipline is being taken

seriously by scientists as a tool with potential to make each one of

us happier and more content.