Meditation to Increase Brain Function

Meditation is a discipline where the mind is focused either on an object or on breathing. It has been described as ‘self regulation of attention, in the service of self-inquiry, in the here and now.”

There have been numerous articles in major magazines as well as in medical journals of the positive benefits of meditation from reducing stress to healing the physical body. Meditation has been known in eastern religions for more than 5,000 years as a quest for spirituality.

Today, there are different types of meditation from the spiritual to psychophysical disciplines, which emphasizes the development of a high degree of mental concentration.

In one small study by the University of Wisconsin-Madison, 25 Madison-area employees went into an eight-week meditation training program to study the mind-body connection. After training, results showed nearly a 50 percent increase in electrical activity in the left frontal area, (the part of the brain associated with positive emotions and anxiety reduction,) of the brain. The study also included the administration of flu shots to the employees. Sixteen other employees also received the shots, but received no meditation training. The study found that the meditators on average had a five percent increase in flu antibodies and some had an increase of up to 25 percent. This goes far in proving meditation can have a positive affect on the body and the mind.

It has been found through study that meditation actually changes brain waves. Because the brain is an electrochemical organ and works off electromagnetic power, meditation will alter the brain waves.

Science has classified four categories of brain waves. When the brain is aroused and active, usually during the activities of every day life, you are using the fastest brain wave, beta. The frequency of beta waves are generally from 15-40 cycles per second.

The next brain wave is called alpha, which are slower and indicates someone who may be sitting down and resting after completion of a task, taking a walk in a garden or meditating is considered to be in an ‘alpha state’ or using the alpha brain wave. The frequency of alpha waves are between 9-14 cycles per minute.

The third brain wave is called theta, which is even slower than the alpha brain wave. Theta waves are considered active when you are daydreaming. If you are driving down a highway and can’t remember the last few miles, you are or were in a theta state. The repetitiousness of a task can often allow us to complete the task without thinking about it. Theta cycles are between 5-8 cycles per second.

The last brain wave is called delta. Delta waves are shown during a deep and dreamless sleep. The cycle range is between 2-3 cycles per second.

Brain waves can also be changed by sound. Music can change the brain waves from active to relaxed. Through external stimuli, such as a tone playing in one ear at 440 hertz and a tone being played at 448 hertz in the other ear, the person listening will hear 8 hertz per minute. Although not really a ‘tone’, it is created within the brain stem which synthesizes the two tones, bringing together the right and left hemispheres of the brain.

Meditation in itself changes brain waves and this helps one to learn how to relax, which in turn will allow one to be able to better deal with everyday stresses and emotional issues. It could also lead one into becoming more self-aware and more observant of those things around us.