This was on Science Friday today, This forum seemed the most appropriate. I will cut and paste.
http://www.sciencefriday.com/program/archives/201008203
Friday, August 20th, 2010
New research looks at the effects of studying a form of meditation on brain connectivity. Writing in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Science, researchers in China and the University of Oregon describe experiments on 45 students, some of whom were taught a meditation technique known as integrative body-mind training (IBMT). The researchers used brain imaging techniques to examine fibers connecting brain regions before and after training. Students trained in the IBMT approach for 11 hours or more appeared to develop new fibers in a part of the brain that helps a person regulate behavior. Control subjects did not form the new fibers. But what does the presence of those fibers actually mean—and what is the meditation technique doing? We’ll talk about it.
Guests
Michael Posner
Psychologist
Adjunct Professor, Weill Cornell Medical College
Professor Emeritus
University of Oregon
Eugene, Oregon
Related Links
* Chinese meditation IBMT found to boost brain connectivity (UO Press release)
* PNAS: Short-term meditation induces white matter changes in the anterior cingulate
Segment produced by:Annette Heist
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Experimentation and peer review is part of buddhism, not theology. Faith is part of theology, not b… More »
Ian Smusz 8/20
[Ian Smusz]
As a practicing buddhist i tend to have trouble convincing people that buddhism is not a religion, b… More »
Ian Smusz 8/20
[HoleyCow]
Your trouble convincing people that buddhism is science is probably caused by the fact that buddhism… More »
HoleyCow 8/20
[HoleyCow]
Spot on Chuck, lets first see some peer review and replication, replication, replication (what locat… More »
HoleyCow 8/20
[Ian Smusz]
Mr. Posner said during the segment that the original experiment was done in China, and that it was r… More »
Ian Smusz 8/20
