The study,
published on 25 March in the public library of Science One, is the first study
using magnetic resonance imaging, FMRI (Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging)
who can show that positive emotions such as showing affection and kindness is
something that can be learned, as well as studying music. Researchers revealed
that part of the brain that is used to detect emotions and feelings changes
dramatically in people who have been practicing compassion meditation
regularly.
The researchers
stated that every individual – ranging from children who may be involved in
anger to others are likely to be affected by depression – therefore they will
benefit from the practice of meditation, said Richard Davidson, Professor of
Psychiatry and psychology, UW-MADISON and an expert in imaging of meditation.
Davidson and Science Association of UW-MADISON Antoine Lutz was the chief
investigator.
This study is
part of an ongoing investigation of researchers with 16 Tibetan monks who has
been practicing meditation at least 10,000 hours. Then they were paired with 16
volunteers who haven't practiced meditation before. They taught fine points of
compassion meditation during the two weeks before the brain scan is performed.
"Some
traditional philosophers talk about compassion as a hope for the happiness of
others and kindness as hopes to release the pain of others. Compassion and
kindness is the core philosophy and mission as the Dalai Lama, "said
Davidson, who worked extensively with the Tibetan religious leader. "We
want to see how this affects compassion volunteer’s brain systems involved in
the formation of empathy.
A variety of
techniques is used in meditation, compassion and requires several years to
practice it. As control in this study was asked first to concentrate on a loved
one, expect the health and liberty for the people who suffer. After some
training, they are then asked to pass on these feelings toward all beings
without thinking in detail against a person.
32nd volunteers
are placed in the FMRI scanner at the UW-Madison to brain imaging, which is
directed by Davidson, and they started to begin compassion meditation. They
presented a variety of forms of human voices both a negative and a positive
response to evoke empathy as well as voice of women who suffer, a baby laughing
and background restaurant noise.
"We use the
audio as a replacement for visual so that volunteers who do this meditation can
keep their eyes slightly open but do not focus on any stimulus," explains
Lutz.
Researchers
reveal activity in the insula – at the areas near the front lines of the brain
that plays an important role in the emotional body movement – when in the long
term volunteers who meditate arising of compassion after exposed to emotional
voices. The strength is related to the intensity of the insula is active
meditation as it has estimated.
"The Insula
is crucial in detecting emotions in general and especially in mapping out the
body's response to an emotion – such as heart rate and blood pressure – and
make that information available to other parts of the brain," said
Davidson, said the head of the Institute for Health Research of emotions.
The discovery of Davidson
and Lutz supported assumption that through practice, people can spread the joy
and compassion.
According to
them, human beings are not only silent, always evolving. The brain is very
flexible, can be trained and improved. Compassion meditation involves the
management of thought and emotion, it is useful to prevent mental depression.
The researchers
feel interested to teach compassion meditation to young people, especially as
they enter adolescence, as an attempt to prevent the crabby, aggression and
violence.
"I think
this problem can become a tool that we can use to give lessons about managing children emotions where this period was a time of very sensitive," said Davidson.
Think about the
suffering of others and not just think of ourselves is a first step. Compassion
meditation can create a more harmonious relationship in all its forms, Davidson
added.
"People in
the world surely can develop a small portion of kindness and compassion,"
he said. "Starting from ourselves, the consequences of changing in this
way can be directly experienced."
Lutz and Davidson
hopes to conduct additional studies to evaluate the changes that occur in the
brain of every individual that fosters positive emotions to practice loving-kindness and compassion at any time.
Original Source : Dian Land,
University of Wisconsin-Madison
March 25, 2008
thanks for sharing.
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