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The Impact of Meditation on Brain Activity: Insights from PET Scans

This study explores the effects of meditation on brain activity, particularly focusing on a PET scan examination of 8 experienced Buddhist monks and 10 volunteers who trained in meditation for one week. Participants meditated on love and compassion, revealing an increase in gamma wave production during meditation. Remarkably, monks demonstrated sustained gamma wave activity even after cessation of meditation. This research, conducted by Richard Davidson in 2004, highlights meditation's significant long-term impact on emotional processing and brain adaptability in response to mental practices.

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The Impact of Meditation on Brain Activity: Insights from PET Scans

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  1. Positron Emission Topography (PET) Jhazz, Emiri, Christian

  2. What is PET?

  3. PET scans

  4. PET study of Meditation with Buddhist monks (Davidson, 2004) Aim • To examine whether meditation affects the brain activity Procedure • 8 Buddhist monks who were highly experienced in meditation, and 10 volunteers who trained meditating for a week • All participants were told to meditate on love and compassion • PET scan was used to observe the number of gamma waves in their brain.

  5. PET study of Meditation with Buddhist monks (Davidson, 2004) Findings • Increase in the number of gamma waves in their brain during meditation • Constant gamma-wave production in the Buddhist monks after they stopped meditating Conclusion • Meditation has significant long-term effects on the brain and the way it processes emotions • Brain adapts to stimulation from the environment and/or the result of one’s own thinking

  6. Strengths and limitations

  7. Quick Quiz!  • What does PET stand for? • How does PET work? • State the 3 strengths and 3 limitations for PET. • What was done in the study of Richard Davidson (2004) and what was his findings/conclusions? • Give one point that makes PET scans more effective than MRI scans.

  8. Bibliography • Crane, J., & Hannibal, J. (2009). Psychology Course Companion. Oxford, NY: Oxford University Press • iStockphoto. The Brain [image]. Retrieved from http://i.istockimg.com/file_thumbview_approve/5809739/2/stock-photo-5809739-brain.jpg • Syringe [image]. Retrieved from http://isearch.c.yimg.jp/image?id=cbcdebb7d35ca1586dee303d756c7a48 • Triumf Canada. PET scan [image]. Retrieved from http://www.triumf.ca/sites/default/files/images/Control-MCI-AD.jpg • Wikimedia. Radiation Symbol [image]. Retrieved from http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/0b/Radiation_warning_symbol.svg/600px-Radiation_warning_symbol.svg.png

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