Meditation

The benefits of meditation

Increase the occurrence of positive feelings

More “positive” feelings. When we feel positive feelings (joy, curiosity, enthusiasm, pride, etc.), electrical activity is predominant in a specific area of ​​the brain (the left prefrontal cortex). A study using magnetic resonance imaging has discovered that in a state of meditation, this area is particularly active. According to the researchers, it could be that meditation promotes brain activity in areas associated with positive feelings while inhibiting those related to anxiety and negative feelings. They hypothesize that this could in the long run affect the temperament and make it more “positive”.

Reduce symptoms of chronic pain in the elderly

In 2008, 2 reviews on the effectiveness of meditation in the treatment of chronic pain in the elderly were published. The findings of these reviews suggest that meditation may be an intervention to help reduce overall chronic pain. However, as it is often accompanied by other treatments and therapies, its specific effectiveness is not clearly established.     

Improve concentration and attention skills

The practice of meditation would allow you to stay long and effectively focused on a task or on a problem to be solved. When a person is highly focused, their gamma frequency brain waves naturally synchronize and amplify. But these periods rarely last more than 1 second at a time. Researchers have found that people who meditate for a long time manage to make them last several minutes.

Research over the past 40 years has found that meditation results in several measurable psychological and physiological benefits.

Reduce stress and anxiety

Numerous studies have demonstrated the effectiveness of mindfulness meditation in reducing psychological and physiological stress. This could be explained by its action on negative thoughts. Indeed, many thoughts are harmful (ruminations, catastrophic scenarios, mental representations that have nothing to do with reality …), these thoughts create what is called “internal stress”. Practicing meditation can help dispel these thoughts and reduce stress. This is why, when practiced daily, meditation is a powerful anti-stress.

Prevent cardiovascular disorders

A randomized clinical study evaluated the practice of transcendental meditation by comparing it to information sessions and discussions with 84 patients with cardiovascular disorders deemed stable. Beneficial effects were observed with regard to blood pressure and insulin resistance in the meditation group. The use of transcendental meditation by patients suffering from cardiovascular disorders could also improve some aspects of the metabolic syndrome.

Reduce the severity of symptoms of obsessive compulsive disorder

A 2008 study investigated the effects of meditation on individuals affected by obsessive-compulsive disorder. The results showed a reduction in the symptoms of the participants who followed the sessions. In addition, they had less difficulty letting go of their thoughts.

Improve the immune system

In one study, researchers found that following vaccination, the level of antibodies against the influenza virus was higher in meditators than in a control group. In addition, the increase in this rate was proportional to that of brain activity in the area related to positive feelings (the left prefrontal cortex).