Yes I think the cortex thikening is interesting. I must say I had assumed that the evidence of health benefits of TM was well established. But I came across this 2007 independent "review" which doesn't appear to rate any of the meditation research.. (same one cited on the programme?): http://www.ahrq.gov/downloads/pub/evidence/pdf/meditation/medit.pdf Surely this is just too negative?
--- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, "gruntlespam" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > On a side note, what's interesting about this BBC synopsis on the show, > and the BBC show it self - is how the BBC now feel the need to dumb- down > everything and add "drama" all the time. > > They make it seem like research is "just starting", when it's been going on > for years. And the point about "interest in meditation [could] turn out to be > a passing fad" is just moronically funny - yeah, like a "fad" lasting 5,000 > years or more. > > But as I mention above, the research about part of the cortex actually thickening > by around .1mm to .2mm is simply astonishing. A demostratable physical change > of substance - not just lines on a graph or MRI scans. > > > --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, "claudiouk" <claudiouk@> wrote: > > > > Good synopsis and points. Actually the TM part seemed rather > > insubstantial and the general impression came across that all the > > scientific claims for TM (for cardiovascular effects, for instance) > > did not amount to much when properly "reviewed". The following piece > > from BBC Health News is all about the programme and there is not even > > a mention of TM.... > > > > Scientists probe meditation secrets > > By Naomi Law > > > > 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 Williams, 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 Williams 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 Richard Davidson > > > > 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 Richard Davidson 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 Davidson 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 Williams 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. > > > > > > Alternative Therapies: Meditation will be broadcast on Monday 31 > > March 2008 at 2100 GMT on BBC Two. > > > > Story from BBC NEWS: > > http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/1/hi/health/7319043.stm > > > > Published: 2008/03/31 09:58:59 GMT > > > > © BBC MMVIII >
