Meditation 'good for brain'

BBC News: Wednesday 5th February 2003

Scientists have found evidence that meditation has a biological effect on the body. A small-scale study (published in the Journal Psychosomatic Medicine) has recently suggested it could boost parts of the brain and the immune system. It is now catching on worldwide as a means to reduce stress or to help with pain caused by various illnesses.

Researchers at the University of Wisconsin-Madison in the United States enrolled 41 people in a trial of "mindfulness" meditation (pioneered by Jon Kabbat-Zin), and after eight weeks of training they measured electrical activity in the frontal part of the brain. They found this region was more active on the left side (associated with lower anxiety and a more positive emotional state) in the individuals who had learned how to meditate.

Participants were also given a flu jab at the start of the study, and those who meditated had significantly higher levels of antibodies at the end of the study. Dr. Richard Davidson who headed the study, said “Although our study is preliminary and more research clearly is warranted, we are very encouraged by these results."

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