| According to a new study, Scientists have | | | | As part of the research, the 32 monks and |
| managed to prove what many Indian people have | | | | volunteers were placed in a brain scanner, |
| known for centuries; they have demonstrated | | | | before 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 the | | | | states, the subjects were exposed to either |
| specialist journal PLOS One, researchers | | | | negative or positive human vocal sounds, |
| discovered that meditative training could | | | | which were specifically designed to evoke |
| produce specific measurable changes in the | | | | neutral vocalisations or empathic responses. |
| parts of the brain that are linked to empathy | | | | The 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 Tibetan | | | | During the test, the scans indicated that |
| monks who had each spent many hours | | | | there was significant activity in the insula |
| cultivating their meditation techniques. The | | | | – the part of the brain that helps the |
| monks underwent a number of functional | | | | body represent emotion - when the monks were |
| magnetic resonance imaging brain scans during | | | | meditating and made to listen to emotional |
| their meditation sessions, which highlighted | | | | vocal 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 meditation | | | | However, journalist and yoga teacher Ruth |
| experience. These volunteers were taught | | | | Fowler is a little sceptical of the study. |
| basic meditation techniques just a fortnight | | | | She 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 of | | | | undertaken every single day for years, by, |
| differences between the brains of the monks | | | | for example, Tibetan Buddhist monks, or |
| and those of the volunteers. Most notable | | | | hardcore 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 detect | | | | it's tiresome.” |
| emotions and feelings. | | | | |
| | | | She also seems doubtful over whether this |
| The inexperienced volunteers were taught only | | | | study or any other research that extols the |
| the most basic elements of compassion | | | | benefits of meditation will actually |
| meditation; they were initially asked to | | | | encourage people to take up the practice. She |
| concentrate on their loved ones and send them | | | | said: “Meditation may go on to be |
| wishes of wellbeing and freedom from | | | | proven scientifically as a wonder cure for |
| suffering. After this, they were then told to | | | | depression, but whether you'll get anyone to |
| generate a similar feeling towards people in | | | | sit down in silence for an hour a day with |
| general, not just specific individuals. | | | | their eyes closed is another matter. |
| | | | |