Post by beebs on Jul 10, 2011 13:28:40 GMT -5
It comes to no surprise that meditation yields higher results. It has to be said that studies show if meditation practice is stopped, so does the benefit. Brain waves revert back to pre-meditation sessions!! Same with Neurofeedback, its temporary, unless the participant learns how to meditate.
Meditation involves several processes including biochemical, which takes time to achieve. Once this level is achieved, it becomes easier to maintain. It takes a while to unclutter the mind and achive internal silence, as well as learning how to create space learning to isolate reactive impulses, specially negative thoughts, feelings and actions. Once this achieved, and the understanding that space is between the negative and the self, it becomes easier to control the mind. Hence, the benefits of cascading effects on biochems, promoting a sense of balance and well being!!
There has to be a process in thoughts and emotions, and pattern of thinking/behavior, self concept and construct, in order to achieve this level of detachment, being stress free, whilst retaining compassion and empathy. I don't think Neurofeedback achieves this, except for brief effects on alpha waves and reducing excitability of theta waves etc.
This is one of a series of four lectures, the fourth being the best I heard on what
is "meditation" and how to. Learned lots from this talk:
go to this link, archive.kpfk.org/parchive/
Scroll down to Tuesday, June 21, 2011 12:00 am
On the left, its says "Something Happening to Roy Hollywood"
Part A, you don't need to listen to the whole lot, but if you
bring it to the time of 2:20 you will hear the most beautiful
succinct talk on meditation.
(THIS IS PART 4)
Neurofeedback-enhanced gamma brainwaves from the prefrontal cortical region of meditators and non-meditators and associated subjective experiences. J Altern Complement Med. 2011 Feb;17(2):109-15. Epub 2011 Feb 8. by Rubik B. from Institute for Frontier Science, Oakland, CA 94611-2802, USA. brubik@earthlink.net
OBJECTIVES: This study had two aims: (1) to explore the inner experiences associated with increased production of gamma brainwaves in an initial neurofeedback experience; and (2) to measure and compare neurofeedback-enhanced increased output from the prefrontal cortical region of meditators and non-meditators, using the Peak Brain Happiness Trainer(™) neurofeedback system. DESIGN: This was a controlled pilot study; it involved a single session per subject. SETTING: The research was conducted in a nonprofit laboratory in the United States. SUBJECTS: There were 12 adults in 2 groups (N = 12): 6 practitioners of Transcendental Meditation(™) and six controls. MEASURES: The measures were self-assessed inner experiences and measurements of clarified gamma output at the prefrontal cortical region. RESULTS: (1) Self-assessed descriptions were comparable for both groups; (2) the associations of 16 supplied descriptors with the initial neurofeedback experience were comparable for both groups and showed highest scores for "happy" (p < 0.0001) and "loving" (p < 0.0001), and lowest scores for "stressed" (p < 0.0001) and "disappointed" (p < 0.0001); (3) baseline measures were comparable for both groups; (4) both groups were able to increase gamma brainwaves using neurofeedback (p < 0.01); and (5) meditators produced greater increases over controls (p = 0.02).
CONCLUSIONS: The inner experience associated with increased clarified gamma amplitude from the prefrontal cortex apparently involves positive emotions of happiness and love, along with reduced stress. Meditators achieved greater increases in the gamma band from the prefrontal cortical region over controls