Neurological Differences Between Three Major Meditative Tradtions
With the emergence of contemplative neuroscience, it is now evident that not all types of meditation produce the same kinds of brain changes. However, I've noticed that among the general population, it is commonly believed that meditation of one variety is not much different from any other. In fact, I recently attended what was supposed to be a short introduction to meditation presented by a community college honor society, only to realize that the presenter was actually a hypno-therapist who mistakenly equated hypnosis with meditation. It's a common mistake, actually. Hypnotic states certainly do not always resemble meditative states when viewed through an EEG, for example. In addition, hypnosis is often used to reprogram the mind, whereas meditation is often about letting go of all such programs. It was also stated in this particular presentation that meditation increases positive emotional activity in the left prefrontal cortex, but this statement is quite misleading. In only one form of meditation has such activity been consistently observed: Tibetan Buddhist compassion meditation.
Dr. Fred Travis of the Center for Brain, Consciousness, and Cognition gave a presentation in April of 2006 at the Science of Consciousness in
- Tibetan Buddhism (T
- Mindfulness Meditation (MM)
- Transcendental Meditation (TM)
3 Procedural Categories
Dr. Travis finds major procedural differences between these three traditions:
- TB = Concentration
- MM = Observation
- TM = Effortless Transcending
Because TM is exceptionally easy to learn and master, novice TM meditators often produce identical or nearly identical EEG readings to those of experienced TM meditators. The picture below shows comparisons between two meditators of roughly the same age during meditation. Even though the more experienced meditator has nearly 8 years more experience than the novice, the novice's EEG is nearly identical to that of the experienced meditator during meditation.
The picture below, however, shows a marked difference in EEG readings between the two meditators when engaged in activities other than meditation. The experienced meditator's brain has clearly integrated this transcendental consciousness into daily activities.
Neurological Differences
Though few if any MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) or PET (positron emission tomography) scans taken during MM are available, many such scans have been done for TB and TM. However, other neural studies have been conducted on MM. The following major differences have been found:
TB
- Increased activity in the left frontal lobe
- Increased activity in the thalamus
- Decreased activity in the parietal lobes
- Thicker frontal
- Thicker right insula
- Thicker sensory
TM
- Increased activity and coherence in the frontal lobes
- Increased activity in the parietal lobes
- Decreased activity in the thalamus
EEG Differences
EEG patterns also differ between the three traditions:
- TB = High 40 Hz activity; high 40 Hz fronto-parietal phase synchrony
- MM = Left frontal-central activation
- TM = High frontal alpha coherence and higher frontal-posterior phase synchrony
Inferences Regarding Brainwave Entrainment (BWE)
Allow me to state at the outset that this entry is not intended to promote one meditative tradition over another, but is rather intended to educate about the fundamental differences in meditative approaches. This entry is merely a report of a presentation given Dr. Fred Travis, who admittedly represents the TM organization. I should also state that I do not practice TM, nor am I in any way affiliated with MUM or the TM organization. Indeed, many different contemplative practices will be examined in future entries of Consciousness Studies Online, so as to help people make educated choices in their spiritual and psychological practices. It is also possible, I believe, to use such findings to better design neurotechnology to optimally enhance contemplative and psychological practices.
As such, Metanoia is currently developing entrainment technology to be used as an adjunct to meditation, and will incorporate research on various meditative traditions into its methodology.
Regarding TM, the following BWE protocols are warranted:
- Increased Alpha coherence in the frontal lobes
- Increased coherence in the parietal lobes
- Increased synchrony between the frontal and parietal lobes
- Decreased thalamus activity
Benefits:
- Higher communication between frontal lobes
- Greater communication between frontal and parietal lobes
- Restful alertness; pure wakefulness in the midst of deep silence
- Specific Alpha frequencies can act as carrier waves for higher perception processes, presumably through harmonic resonance
- Higher cognitive performance
- Better performance in spatial tasks
- Better memory
- Higher creativity
- Quicker reaction time
Regarding TB the following BWE protocols are warranted:
- Increased Gamma over most of the scalp
- In creased Gamma synchrony between frontal and parietal lobes
- Increase thalamus activity
Benefits:
- Increased positive emotions
- Ability to shift "emotional set-point"
- Increased focus
- Better complex recall
We are hoping to have our Meditation Program available by Summer, '08, but hopefully sooner. While we are not promoting this program as an alternative to traditional meditation, we do believe it to be an uncommonly effective adjunct capable of developing the more profound characteristics of meditation in a much easier manner than with traditional meditation alone. This program will have many other unique features, not the least of which will be a genuinely holistic approach based on the Integral Theory of Ken Wilber. And we are making sure that it includes methodologies based on the latest scientific research, so please stay tuned.
I suggest when evaluating the study which purports to favor TM that the reader know that the study was done by people affiliated with the TM organization.
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Yes, this particular study was certainly conducted by a faculty member of the Maharishi University of Management. As such, it is very possible that his observations and motivations carry bias. That is why I stated that my motivation in making the post was not in any way an attempt to promote TM above any other form of meditation.
Indeed, I've studied the available neurological research on several different contemplative traditions, and my main intention is to present the overall available research without preference for any particular tradition. They each have their pros and cons. TM's advantage, of course, is that of all the major forms of meditation studied, it is one of the easiest to learn and master and helps cultivate many empirically proven benefits. Not everyone is interested in the austere practices of Zen meditation, and TM can be a valuable alternative in this respect, since it only requires twenty minutes twice a day.
However, as far as I am aware, TM's long-term neurological shifts do not seem to be nearly as profound as those reported in Zazen meditation. James H. Austin's Zen Brain Reflections touches upon this apparent fact, clearly stating that the reports of transcendental consciousness in TM seem mostly superficial in comparison to some of the more profound Kensho states commonly reported in Zen. The term "superficial," in this case, refers to the temporal nature of both the state of consciousness and its overall effect upon the brain and nervous system.
Another example of profound effects upon the nervous system induced through meditation, is the report of Tibetan Buddhist monks after extensive training in Shamatha. Such reports invariably include a strange sensation often described as feeling as though a human hand has been firmly placed on top of the crown of the head. Furthermore, this is described as a permanent sensation, which reflects profound neurological changes that have taken place over time. And again, no such profound changes have ever been recorded in the hundreds of research studies involving TM. In other words, I do not in any way believe TM to be the cream of the crop of meditative disciplines. I simply want to present the available research in a way that helps individuals make more informed choices. I should also state that Dr. Travis explicitly asked that researchers in contemplative neuroscience begin to agree upon and use standard research protocols, so as to allow the specific neurological differences between the various meditative disciplines to become more apparent. I will therefore be presenting neurological research on other traditions, as well, such as Zazen, mindfulness meditation, Tibetan Buddhist meditation, heart-centered prayer, Sahaja meditation, and Nidra yoga.
I should also state that I do not practice TM, nor am I in any way affiliated with MUM or the TM organization. Anyway, please stick around for future posts, and you'll see that I am attempting to represent as many of the contemplative traditions as is possible. After all, that's what contemplative neuroscience should ultimately be about.
Thanks for your comment,
Eric
Consciousness Studies Online
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Thank you for your thoughtful comments, Eric.
You may be interested in a paper that describes a context analysis of Transcendental Consciousness experiences (Travis, F. and Pearson, C. (2000). Pure consciousness: Distinct phenomenological and physiological correlates of "consciousness itself". The International journal of neuroscience. 100(1-4).) This state is characterized by the absence of time, space and body sense. It is an experience outside of time--it is eternal; it is outside of space and body sense--unbounded. It is our divine nature--far from being a "superficial" experience.
You may also be interested in this paper of people who report the experience of enlightenment through TM practice (Travis, F. T., Arenander, A. T. and DuBois, D. (2004). Psychological and physiological characteristics of a proposed object-referral/self-referral continuum of self-awareness. Consciousness and Cognition. 13: 401-420.) Enlightenment is the experience of our divine nature 24/7--through sleeping, dreaming, and waking. It is the experience of unbounded Self with bounded experiences, rather than a new, bounded experience--like a hand on your head. This paper reports physiological and psychological characteristics of these subjects. While these subjects reached enlightenment after practicing TM practice, obviously enlightenment is not the property of a specific meditation technique, but the property of the human nervous system
Thank you again for your thoughtful comments. Perhaps we can have lunch at the 2008 Tucson conference.
Fred Travis
Center for Brain, Consciousness and Cogntion
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Hi Fred,
Thanks so much for your reply. I just finished reading the first paper you mentioned and found it to be quite interesting and informative. The reported phenomenology does appear to be a witnessing substrate consciousness (turya) that underlies waking, dreaming, and sleeping states, and I am convinced of that. There are certainly some very profound changes taking place within the nervous system. And I completely agree with you that enlightenment "is the experience of our divine nature 24/7--through sleeping, dreaming, and waking," an unbounded Self with bounded experiences, rather than a new, bounded experience--like a hand on your head." When mentioning the "hand on the head," I did not mean to say that enlightenment was simply a bounded experience. What I didn't mention was that such reports of "the hand on the head" are likewise reported as bounded experiences within a context of boundless awareness. In other words, within the context of that boundless experience there was manifested over time a particularly profound shift within the nervous system. Obviously, the bounded experience of this "felt shift" is not in itself enlightenment.
Your "junction point model" (was it borrowed from James?) seems quite apt in describing states of consciousness in relation to the substrate consciousness. I would very much like to have lunch with you at the 2008 Tucson conference. I'm not certain what days I will be able to attend, as I will have classes that I won't be able to miss that week. Will you be presenting?
Thanks for all your work. I do sincerely appreciate your clarifying words, and welcome more of the same whenever you have the time and care to share them.
Take care,
Eric Thompson
Metanoia
Consciousness Studies Online
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