January 04, 2005

A Measure of a Mind

The Washington Post reports that meditation can charge the mind according to neuroscientist Richard Davidson, of the W.M. Keck Laboratory for Functional Brain Imaging and Behavior. Using EEGs and functional magnetic resonance imagining (fMRI) on to measure brain activity in meditating monks, Davidson found intense gamma wave activity, connected to higher mental activity and heightened awareness. This is consistent with Davison's earlier work that identified the left prefrontal cortex as a brain region associated with happiness and positive thoughts and emotions. He concludes from his research that meditation not only changes the short-term workings of the brain, but could also produce permanent changes. - Linda Glenn

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