In the study, researchers at Harvard University administered two perceptual rivalry tests to 76 Tibetan Buddhist monks who had meditation training ranging from 5 to 54 years. The visual rivalry test was conducted during two types of meditation: "compassion" meditation (the contemplation of suffering in the world and emanation of loving kindness) and "one point" meditation (a maintained focus of attention). The motion induced blindness test was conducted prior to meditation. Both of the perceptual rivalry tests measured the participants' conscious awareness and attention.
Researchers found that the monks demonstrated increases in the durations of perceptual dominance while practicing one-point meditation. During the motion induced blindness test, the monks' duration of stable perception averaged 4.1 seconds, as compared to 2.6 seconds for nonmeditators. One monk with many years of meditation experience maintained a duration of 723 seconds.
"Our results support the claim that training in meditation can have a real and measurable effect on an individual's conscious state," says study researcher Olivia Carter, PhD. "Although the current study provides no direct evidence that meditation will help alleviate the symptoms of depression or stress, the findings are consistent with reports that experienced meditators are able to control and direct the focus of their attention towards a positive and calm state, in a manner that may help reduce symptoms of stress and depression."
Posted by Kristopher Foster on June 30, 2006 01:38 PM
