More Meditation Research

"The scientists predicted that the square root of 1 percent of the world population (about 7,000 people) meditating together would create a worldwide positive effect."


My research continues to find more recent research about the benefits of meditation. This morning I read a post from Elaine Gavalas discussing the recent use of meditation and yoga at Occupy Wall Street. By the way people, meditation is much quieter than drumming and seems to have a far greater impact on the humanity (Although I enjoy a good drum circle to wake up the spirit!), and Gavalas mentions a few places doing research on this very effect. The Maharishi University of Management asked 2000 volunteers to meditate and noticed that violent crime decreased nationwide. While this might be a coincidence, it is interesting. Similarly, the others have found that large numbers of people meditating can actually prevent acts of terrorism. "Scientists [at Rand Corporation] predicted that the square root of 1 percent of the world population (about 7,000 people) meditating together would create a worldwide positive effect. The researchers found a 72 percent decrease in worldwide terrorism during the combined three assemblies." Fascinating. This reminds me that we are ALL connected. 


Lastly, Gavalas reinforces that meditation can positively effect the brain, specifically the limbic brain region which effect emotions, long-term memory, behavior and olfactory sense. Interestingly, in the old days, this was the area of the brain that doctors would surgically cut when people had severe emotional problems. This area is also associated with pleasure. No wonder I see so many smiles from my peers at Dharma yoga after practice that includes a blissful meditation. (I didn't see this much in my yoga experience in Chicago.) Consequently, the researchers found that these seasoned meditators were much more compassionate when listening to sounds that might draw emotional reactions. 


I am currently reading an article by Bronwyn Robertson titled "The adaptation and application of mindfulness-based psychotherapeutic practices for individuals with intellectual disabilities" from the journal Advances in Mental Health and Intellectual Disabilities. Robertson says that there is little research on MBPPs for this population however they are the most needy because of the effects meditation can have on the brain and how meditation effects behavior and anxiety. 


I want to research these approaches and find out ways to implement in the educational or self-contained setting. 


TBC...