Meditation Makes (Brain) Waves
News Note
By Lara Evans Bracciante
Originally published in Massage & Bodywork magazine, August/September 2003.
Copyright 2003. Associated Bodywork and Massage Professionals. All rights reserved.
Turns out, those monks really are on to something. Meditation has a biological effect on the body, easing anxiety and boosting immunity, according to a recent study published in Psychosomatic Medicine. Using a technique called "mindfulness" meditation, researchers at the University of Wisconsin enrolled 41 subjects, 21 of whom attended a weekly meditation class and one seven-hour meditation retreat during the study, the remaining 20 served as the control group and did not participate in any meditation. All subjects were given a flu shot at the start of the study to measure immune response. After eight weeks, electrical activity on the frontal left side of the brain -- an area associated with lower anxiety -- was more active in the meditating subjects, indicating a more positive emotional state. The meditation group also had higher antibody levels, suggesting stronger immunity.
Copyright 2003. Associated Bodywork and Massage Professionals. All rights reserved.
Turns out, those monks really are on to something. Meditation has a biological effect on the body, easing anxiety and boosting immunity, according to a recent study published in Psychosomatic Medicine. Using a technique called "mindfulness" meditation, researchers at the University of Wisconsin enrolled 41 subjects, 21 of whom attended a weekly meditation class and one seven-hour meditation retreat during the study, the remaining 20 served as the control group and did not participate in any meditation. All subjects were given a flu shot at the start of the study to measure immune response. After eight weeks, electrical activity on the frontal left side of the brain -- an area associated with lower anxiety -- was more active in the meditating subjects, indicating a more positive emotional state. The meditation group also had higher antibody levels, suggesting stronger immunity.
