Name of Lecture: …Meditation and Brain Neurophysiology and the effect of meditation on Response to Distractive Stimuli

Name of Speaker: …Rael Cahn 

Program Time: …11am-1230am

Location: ...Meditation Hall, SRSG

Name of Chairman:…Arnuad Delorme

Name of Reporter: …Klara Gerrits

Reference Material/Presentation/Other Information Collected: …Slideshow 

Main Points of the Lecture: ....

In his lecture Dr. Cahn gave a review of the scientific findings about the effects of meditation on the experience and neurophysiologic processing of pain. Sensation and emotional response are the major components to pain. Studies show that meditation, as well as placebo and hypnosis, are capable of decreasing the emotional response to pain. Different meditation techniques result in differing effects and locations in the brain. The studies considered in the lecture were done with Zen meditators, transcendental meditators and mindfulness practitioners. Meditation is shown to lead to an increased activity in areas of the prefrontal cortex. The activation of this part of the brain is needed to alter experiences of pain/reality. The studies under review concluded that meditators (in comparison to non-meditators) showed less reaction to distracting and unpleasant stimuli. In addition,  meditators experienced less distress caused by pain. They demonstrated slower breathing rates, a lower pain-intensity rate and had higher pain thresholds. Meditation is shown to preserve the brain volume where normally with aging the cortex is thinning. A mindfulness training to elderly subjects with chronic pain (study 2008) resulted in a higher acceptance of chronic pain and more engagement with activities despite pain.