Extreme Happiness:
The Science Of Meditation And The Brain
By Oz Vorland
Let's mirror depression and happiness and learn the simple
truth underlying them both. Scientists know far less about
positive emotions than they do about negative emotions and
stress. But researchers have in recent years recorded
remarkable results.
A team of researchers at the University of Wisconsin
recorded greater brain activity in the left prefrontal
cortex after an 8-week mindfulness-based meditation
program. Left-sided anterior brain activity is linked to
positive emotions. Compared to the controls, the meditators
showed significantly less trait anxiety and negative affect
(Davidson R et al, 2003).
Mindfulness also proved to influence the immune system by
producing more antibodies after flu vaccines were
administered upon completion of the program.
A 2008 study supports the previous findings on meditation
and the brain activity. Brain scans performed during
compassion meditation recorded extreme happiness-related
activity in brain regions linked to language and positive
emotions.
In Stefan Klein's brilliant book, The Science of
Happiness, Klein describes the most intense left-sided,
happiness-related brain activity he had ever before
recorded. This occurred during Tibetan compassion
meditation.
One of the subjects, Michael Baime, an experienced
meditator and physician who conducts stress research at the
University of Pennsylvania, describes his experience as
follows:
"There was a feeling of energy centered within me ...
going out to infinite space and returning ... an intense
feeling of love... I felt a deep and profound sense of
connection to everything, recognizing that there never was
any separation at all." (Klein, 2002)
There's NO mystery or magic involved in this process. From
severe depression to extreme happiness, you see how logical
both depression and happiness truly are?
Severe depression: Feelings of anger, fear and stress.
Social withdrawal, isolation, communication break-down,
reduced brain activity. Messenger protein withdrawal, cell
death, and suicide.
vs...
Extreme happiness: Feelings of love, connection to
everything, never any separation at all. Interaction,
intense activity within the brain and communication between
brain cells, energy, and life.
Severe depression and extreme happiness are simply
complete opposites along the wide and fluid spectrum of
natural emotions, and logical results of these emotions'
long term effects on a person's mind/brain and body.
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References:
Davidson RJ, Kabat-Zinn J, Schumacher J, Rosenkranz M,
Muller D, Santorelli SF, Urbanowski F, Harrington A, Bonus
K, Sheridan JF: Alterations in brain and immune function
produced by mindfulness meditation. Psychosomatic Medicine.
2003; 65:564-70.
Klein, S (2002): The Science of Happiness: how our brains
make us happy and what we can do to get happier. Avalon
Publishing Group, Inc., New York. pg 227.
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An experienced meditator, Oz specializes in mantra and
mindfulness-based meditation techniques rooted in the
science of meditation and happiness. Learn the fascinating
foundation of happiness and how to practice it in your
meditation and everyday life at
www.meditation-techniques-
for-happiness.com
