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Meditation Trains Brain to be Kinder

According to a new study, Scientists haveAs part of the research, the 32 monks and
managed to prove what many Indian people havevolunteers were placed in a brain scanner,
known for centuries; they have demonstratedbefore being asked to begin compassion
that  meditation  is  good  for  the  brain.meditation or to refrain from the meditation
altogether. While they were in each of these
During the study, which was published in thestates, the subjects were exposed to either
specialist journal PLOS One, researchersnegative or positive human vocal sounds,
discovered that meditative training couldwhich were specifically designed to evoke
produce specific measurable changes in theneutral vocalisations or empathic responses.
parts of the brain that are linked to empathyThe sounds used in the study included a
and  compassion.laughing baby, a distressed woman and some
background  restaurant  noise.
In the research into compassion meditation
practices, researchers studied 16 TibetanDuring the test, the scans indicated that
monks who had each spent many hoursthere was significant activity in the insula
cultivating their meditation techniques. The– the part of the brain that helps the
monks underwent a number of functionalbody represent emotion - when the monks were
magnetic resonance imaging brain scans duringmeditating and made to listen to emotional
their meditation sessions, which highlightedvocal sounds. The scans also showed a clear
any  changes  to  the  brain.link between the strength of the activity and
the  intensity  of  the  meditation.
The meditating monks were pitted against 16
volunteers who had no previous meditationHowever, journalist and yoga teacher Ruth
experience. These volunteers were taughtFowler is a little sceptical of the study.
basic meditation techniques just a fortnightShe said: “Meditation can change your
before  their  brains  were  scanned.life, but the kind of meditation the
scientists are studying is a practise
The brain scans showed a number ofundertaken every single day for years, by,
differences between the brains of the monksfor example, Tibetan Buddhist monks, or
and those of the volunteers. Most notablehardcore yogis who are terrifyingly committed
were the changes in the monks’ brains,to mental and physical control. It's hard and
particularly in the circuits used to detectit's  tiresome.”
emotions  and  feelings.
She also seems doubtful over whether this
The inexperienced volunteers were taught onlystudy or any other research that extols the
the most basic elements of compassionbenefits of meditation will actually
meditation; they were initially asked toencourage people to take up the practice. She
concentrate on their loved ones and send themsaid: “Meditation may go on to be
wishes of wellbeing and freedom fromproven scientifically as a wonder cure for
suffering. After this, they were then told todepression, but whether you'll get anyone to
generate a similar feeling towards people insit down in silence for an hour a day with
general,  not  just  specific  individuals.their eyes closed is another matter.



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