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Wandering minds associated with aging cells

Scientific studies have suggested that a wandering mind indicates unhappiness, whereas a mind that is present in the moment indicates well-being. Now, a preliminary UCSF study suggests a possible link between mind wandering ...

Psychology & Psychiatry created Nov 16, 2012 | popularity 3.1 / 5 (7) | comments 1 | with audio podcast

Meditation produces enduring changes in emotional processing in the brain, study shows

A new study has found that participating in an 8-week meditation training program can have measurable effects on how the brain functions even when someone is not actively meditating. In their report in the ...

Neuroscience created Nov 12, 2012 | popularity 4.2 / 5 (24) | comments 2 | with audio podcast

Compassion meditation may boost neural basis of empathy, study finds

(Medical Xpress)—A compassion-based meditation program can significantly improve a person's ability to read the facial expressions of others, finds a study published by Social Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience. ...

Psychology & Psychiatry created Oct 04, 2012 | popularity 4.5 / 5 (2) | comments 0 | with audio podcast

Chinese mindfulness meditation prompts double positive punch in brain white matter

Scientists studying the Chinese mindfulness meditation known as integrative body-mind training (IBMT) say they've confirmed and expanded their findings on changes in structural efficiency of white matter in the brain that ...

Neuroscience created Jun 11, 2012 | popularity 5 / 5 (9) | comments 0 | with audio podcast

Tuning out: How brains benefit from meditation

Experienced meditators seem to be able switch off areas of the brain associated with daydreaming as well as psychiatric disorders such as autism and schizophrenia, according to a new brain imaging study by ...

Psychology & Psychiatry created Nov 21, 2011 | popularity 4.7 / 5 (47) | comments 20 | with audio podcast

The benefits of meditation: Neuroscientists explain why the practice helps tune out distractions and relieve pain

Studies have shown that meditating regularly can help relieve symptoms in people who suffer from chronic pain, but the neural mechanisms underlying the relief were unclear. Now, MIT and Harvard researchers ...

Neuroscience created May 05, 2011 | popularity 4.5 / 5 (12) | comments 2 | with audio podcast

Mindfulness from meditation associated with lower stress hormone

(Medical Xpress)—Focusing on the present rather than letting the mind drift may help to lower levels of the stress hormone cortisol, suggests new research from the Shamatha Project at the University of ...

Psychology & Psychiatry created Mar 28, 2013 | popularity 5 / 5 (2) | comments 0 | with audio podcast

Mindfulness meditation may relieve chronic inflammation

People suffering from chronic inflammatory conditions, such as rheumatoid arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease and asthma—in which psychological stress plays a major role—may benefit from mindfulness meditation techniques, ...

Immunology created Jan 16, 2013 | popularity 3 / 5 (1) | comments 0 | with audio podcast

Meditation expertise changes experience of pain

(Medical Xpress)—Meditation can change the way a person experiences pain, according to a new study by UW–Madison neuroscientists.

Neuroscience created Nov 16, 2012 | popularity 5 / 5 (6) | comments 0 | with audio podcast

Mindfulness meditation reduces loneliness, benefits immune system

Many elderly people spend their last years alone. Spouses pass and children scatter. But being lonely is much more than a silent house and a lack of companionship. Over time, loneliness not only takes a toll on the psyche ...

Psychology & Psychiatry created Aug 14, 2012 | popularity 5 / 5 (4) | comments 1 | with audio podcast

Mindfulness meditation reduces loneliness in older adults: study

For older adults, loneliness is a major risk factor for health problems — such as cardiovascular disease and Alzheimer's — and death. Attempts to diminish loneliness with social networking programs like creating ...

Psychology & Psychiatry created Jul 24, 2012 | popularity 5 / 5 (2) | comments 0 | with audio podcast

Mindful multitasking: Meditation first can calm stress, aid concentration

(Medical Xpress) -- Need to do some serious multitasking? Some training in meditation beforehand could make the work smoother and less stressful, new research from the University of Washington shows.

Psychology & Psychiatry created Jun 14, 2012 | popularity 5 / 5 (3) | comments 0 | with audio podcast

Psychologists find meditation increases awareness of subliminal messages

(Phys.org) -- In our busy world most rarely have time to ponder the intricacies of subliminal messaging, despite the fact that it goes on all around us every day, in many cases as a direct means to incite ...

Psychology & Psychiatry created Jun 08, 2012 | popularity 4.5 / 5 (8) | comments 3 | with audio podcast report

Meditation practice may decrease risk for cardiovascular disease in teens

Regular meditation could decrease the risk of developing cardiovascular disease in teens who are most at risk, according to Georgia Health Sciences University researchers.

Health created Jun 07, 2012 | popularity not rated yet | comments 0 | with audio podcast

Long-term meditation leads to different brain organization

(Medical Xpress) -- People who practice mindfulness meditation learn to accept their feelings, emotions, and states of mind without judging or resisting them. They simply live in the moment.

Psychology & Psychiatry created May 24, 2012 | popularity 5 / 5 (10) | comments 0 | with audio podcast

Meditation

Meditation is a mental discipline by which one attempts to get beyond the reflexive, "thinking" mind into a deeper state of relaxation or awareness. Meditation often involves turning attention to a single point of reference. It is a component of many religions, and has been practiced since antiquity. It is also practiced outside religious traditions. Different meditative disciplines encompass a wide range of spiritual or psychophysical practices that may emphasize different goals—from achievement of a higher state of consciousness, to greater focus, creativity or self-awareness, or simply a more relaxed and peaceful frame of mind.

The word meditation comes from the Indo-European root med-, meaning "to measure." From the root med- are also derived the English words mete, medicine, modest, and moderate. It entered English as meditation through the Latin meditatio, which originally indicated any type of physical or intellectual exercise, then later evolved into the more specific meaning "contemplation."

Eastern meditation techniques have been adapted and increasingly practiced in Western culture.

For more information about Meditation, read the full article at Wikipedia.
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