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