Zeina Ayache Meditation really modifies the activity of our brain, managing to influence thoughts and the state of consciousness, this is the conclusion reached by scientists from the University of Pisa who flew to Tibet to study the brain waves of Buddhist monks
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Meditation has the power to influence brain function so profoundly that it can change our state of consciousness. To better understand this phenomenon, scientists studied the brains of Tibetan monks. Here’s how they did it and what they discovered.
Years of study to master meditation
In Tibet, the Sera Jey Monastery is not only a home for Buddhist monks but also one of the oldest monastic universities of Tibetan Buddhism, with centuries of tradition.
Monks at Sera Jey dedicate around 20 years of rigorous study to develop the ability to meditate for up to 8 hours a day.
Their daily routine includes four two-hour meditation sessions, totaling approximately 2,920 hours annually.
This extraordinary dedication makes them ideal subjects for studying what happens in the brain during meditation. In 2018, researchers from the University of Pisa began a study involving these monks, and their findings are now shedding light on the secrets of meditation.
Different meditations, different effects on the brain
The researchers focused on two specific types of meditation practiced by the Sera Jey monks:
- Concentrative meditation, which allows practitioners to achieve a cognitive state of awareness free from content and discursive thought.
- Analytical meditation, which involves focusing the mind on an object of reflection, such as a philosophical or moral concept, and analyzing it from multiple perspectives.
How scientists examined the monks’ brains
To study the monks’ brains, scientists used electroencephalography (EEG). This non-invasive method measures brain activity using electrodes placed on the scalp. The data collected represents different brain waves, which correlate with various cognitive processes such as memory, decision-making, and mental states like fatigue or mental load.
By analyzing these EEG readings, the researchers gained insight into the cognitive and mental states associated with meditation.
The brain during meditation
The study revealed that meditation does indeed alter brain activity. It suppresses irrelevant stimuli and distractions, enabling a heightened focus on self-awareness. This aligns with the purpose of meditation: achieving a state of inner peace and well-being.
The findings highlight how meditation facilitates mental clarity and promotes overall tranquility.
The research, titled “Report from a Tibetan Monastery: EEG Neural Correlates of Concentrative and Analytical Meditation,” was published in the scientific journal Frontiers in Psychology.
