tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-47208285143691404772024-03-08T07:19:38.060-08:00Spiritual ThresholdA look at all things spiritual from the mystical to quantum physics.Stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05808682043728565743noreply@blogger.comBlogger84125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4720828514369140477.post-20262660741608488862020-01-25T14:52:00.004-08:002020-01-25T14:52:57.121-08:00Various studies on meditationVox has an article titled "<a href="https://www.vox.com/future-perfect/2020/1/10/21013234/meditation-brain-neuroscience-moral-obligation">Are we morally obligated to meditate?</a>", a general article about the author's meditation journey and the various studies on meditation they came across.Stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05808682043728565743noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4720828514369140477.post-44594738025062745822020-01-05T13:33:00.000-08:002020-01-05T13:33:16.804-08:00Meditation and mindfulness training may lower blood pressure<a href="https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/327310.php#1">There is anecdotal evidence that meditation and mindfulness training may reduce blood pressure</a>, according to Medical News Today. The study can be found at <a href="https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0223095">https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0223095</a>.Stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05808682043728565743noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4720828514369140477.post-49022645802070873852019-05-19T14:01:00.003-07:002019-05-19T14:01:52.338-07:00An excerpt from Beyond the Self<a href="https://mitpress.mit.edu/books/beyond-self">Beyond the Self</a> is a book by Matthieu Ricard (a molecular biologist that became a Buddhist monk in Nepal) and Wolf Singer (a neuroscientist) that is a conversation between the two about meditation and the brain. <a href="https://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2017/12/buddhism-and-neuroscience/548120/">The Atlantic has an excerpt</a> - it's a bit of heavy reading, but interesting nonetheless.Stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05808682043728565743noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4720828514369140477.post-15832069616684788762018-11-26T14:19:00.000-08:002018-11-26T14:19:06.418-08:00Transcendental Meditation for treating Post-traumatic stress disorderA study funded by the Department of Defense, US Army Medical Research and done at the Department of Veterans Affairs San Diego
Healthcare System found that <a href="https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanpsy/article/PIIS2215-0366(18)30384-5/fulltext">Transcendental Meditation works as an alternative for those who do not want to receive or do not respond to exposure-based treatments for Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)</a>.Stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05808682043728565743noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4720828514369140477.post-88124491990218266552018-11-25T14:16:00.002-08:002018-11-25T14:16:53.330-08:00What to use instead of willpower to be more productive, according to neuroscienceA long article from medium.com goes over <a href="https://medium.com/the-mission/willpower-doesnt-work-here-s-the-key-to-being-more-productive-according-to-neuroscience-f6c4257eb6b9">how the primitive part of our brain sabotages delayed gratification and how to program our brain using IF-THEN statements to stop that sabotage</a>.Stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05808682043728565743noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4720828514369140477.post-90829742861896785672018-10-14T08:25:00.000-07:002018-10-14T08:24:59.974-07:00Near Death Experience discussion on television<a href="https://www.discovery.com/tv-shows/expedition-unknown/">Expedition Unknown</a> on the Discovery Channel is currently having a series called "Search for the Afterlife", with the "Heaven and Hell" and "After the Search: Talking with the Dead" episodes having some discussion about Near Death Experiences. Definitely recommended watching!Stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05808682043728565743noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4720828514369140477.post-85089402160788821892018-07-19T19:34:00.000-07:002018-07-19T19:34:08.238-07:00Heat and the brainDo you feel like your brain is not with it in the summer heat? The Center for Climate, Health and the Global Environment at Harvard University has found that <a href="https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2018/07/16/628521596/heat-making-you-lethargic-research-shows-it-can-slow-your-brain-too">our brains are susceptible to temperature abnormalities</a>. All the more reason to stay cool.Stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05808682043728565743noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4720828514369140477.post-23695104737080222462018-07-15T15:51:00.003-07:002018-07-15T15:51:42.065-07:00Buddhist meditation used in Thai cave soccer team ordealAccording to Vox, the <a href="https://www.vox.com/2018/7/9/17548512/thai-cave-rescue-soccer-boys-meditation-buddhism">soccer team's coach taught them to meditate</a> to help them keep calm and preserve their energy during their two-week ordeal.Stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05808682043728565743noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4720828514369140477.post-62486846299923011032018-02-04T14:02:00.002-08:002018-02-04T14:02:52.639-08:00You really are on the same wavelength with your friendsResearchers from UCLA and Dartmouth College are able to <a href="http://www.latimes.com/science/sciencenow/la-sci-sn-friends-brains-same-20180130-story.html">have a computer program determine with 48% accuracy friendships between two people based on neural similarities</a>. Accuracies of identifying a friend of a friend were at 39%, friend of a friend of a friend at 31%, and friendships further removed than that at 47%. When the program was wrong, it was usually only off by one category.Stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05808682043728565743noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4720828514369140477.post-64487243018392030782017-12-10T08:26:00.001-08:002017-12-10T08:27:44.950-08:00Why Meditate? Change your Brain's Default ModeI came across this on YouTube the other evening and thought that this might be of interest for others.<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="270" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/aAVPDYhW_nw" width="480"></iframe>Stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05808682043728565743noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4720828514369140477.post-45399112811916436532017-04-16T09:13:00.001-07:002017-04-16T09:13:13.854-07:00The parts of the brain involved in dreaming<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/science/2017/apr/10/scientists-identify-parts-of-brain-involved-in-dreaming">Scientists have identified the parts of the brain that are involved in dreaming</a>. Dreams don't just happen in REM sleep and changes in brain activity offer clues to what the dream is about.Stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05808682043728565743noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4720828514369140477.post-7071926317320656072017-03-12T08:28:00.000-07:002017-03-12T08:28:15.951-07:00Brain activity recorded after deathIn Canada, <a href="http://www.sciencealert.com/brain-activity-has-been-recorded-as-much-as-10-minutes-after-death">doctors observed delta waves in one patient more than 10 minutes after doctors confirmed the patient's death.</a>Stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05808682043728565743noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4720828514369140477.post-55425707143037029932016-12-26T09:14:00.001-08:002016-12-26T09:14:25.879-08:00The mind isn't limited to the body<a href="http://qz.com/866352/scientists-say-your-mind-isnt-confined-to-your-brain-or-even-your-body/">Scientists say your “mind” isn’t confined to your brain, or even your body</a> from Quartz feels more like a hidden advertisement for a professor's new book than anything with solid research, but it presents the idea that the mind goes beyond the brain.Stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05808682043728565743noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4720828514369140477.post-79867984732546572192016-02-21T09:16:00.001-08:002016-02-21T09:16:15.972-08:00Meditation can change the brains of ordinary people and improve their health<a href="http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0006322316000792">A study published in Biological Psychiatry</a> shows that <a href="http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2016/02/18/contemplation-therapy/?_r=0">meditation can change the brains of ordinary people and improve their health</a>. There's an indication in the article that other studies have not had "scientific thoroughness", but I don't know if that claim is true or not.Stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05808682043728565743noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4720828514369140477.post-68822366432663373522016-01-18T08:34:00.000-08:002016-01-18T08:34:03.923-08:00Information carried around the brain by a weak electrical field<a href="http://www.gizmag.com/electrical-field-brainwaves/41366/">Slow-moving brainwaves (around theta) may be carrying information around the brain, according to The Journal of Neuroscience</a>. It may provide more insight into memory formation and epilepsy.Stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05808682043728565743noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4720828514369140477.post-39829605591637106322014-11-16T14:03:00.001-08:002014-11-16T14:03:31.795-08:00Meditation Affects Cancer Survivors<p>Researchers find that <a href="http://www.sciencealert.com/world-first-evidence-suggests-that-meditation-alters-cancer-survivors-cells">meditation maintains the length of telomeres in cancer survivors</a> whereas they shorten in non-meditators.</p>Stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05808682043728565743noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4720828514369140477.post-66816392034635793012014-07-13T18:51:00.000-07:002014-07-13T18:51:01.004-07:00Lucid Dreams Produce Gamma Brainwaves<p>The Neurological Laboratory in Frankfurt discovered that <a href="http://themindunleashed.org/2014/06/lucid-dreamers-produce-fastest-brainwave-frequencies-ever-recorded.html">lucid dreamers produce gamma brainwaves that operate at at 40Hz</a>.</p>
<p>I've had a few lucid dreams which occurred before ever doing gamma brainwave entrainment. I don't think I have noticed any more of them since I've started doing gamma brainwave entrainment. What has everyone else's experience been?</p>Stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05808682043728565743noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4720828514369140477.post-79432159745457622302014-03-31T22:37:00.000-07:002014-03-31T22:37:15.253-07:00A Data Analysis of Dreams<p>FiveThirtyEight discusses <a href="http://fivethirtyeight.com/datalab/turning-dreams-into-data/">results of a dream analysis study from 1950 and a new study from 2013</a>. Apparently, the majority of dreams were "bad dreams" in both the 1950 and 2013 studies.</p>
<p>I do not find that to be my experience with dreams. I would say the majority of them are weird - not particularly good or bad. It's rare for me to have a good or bad dream and even more rare to have a great dream or a nightmare. It would be interesting to see the dream distribution of people that have more good dreams than bad or neutral dreams to see if there is anything in common amongst those people.</p>Stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05808682043728565743noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4720828514369140477.post-32652205790024394102014-03-08T14:19:00.001-08:002014-03-08T14:19:38.144-08:00The Brain During an Out-Of-Body Experience<p>Scientists from the University of Ottawa did an <a href="http://finance.yahoo.com/news/scientists-scanned-womans-brain-during-232752794.html">fMRI brain scan on a woman during her out-of-body experience</a>. What it doesn't state is if they were able to confirm what she was doing, especially if it was something taking place in another room.</p>Stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05808682043728565743noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4720828514369140477.post-39398296149970710062014-01-26T16:00:00.003-08:002014-01-26T16:00:59.510-08:00Mind Pool<p><a href="http://kiellong.net/the-static-organ/mind-pool/">Mind Pool</a> - Physical feedback of a user's brainwave activity presented in real time.</p>
<p>This certainly brings to mind the thought of a still pond and that thoughts create the ripples.</p>Stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05808682043728565743noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4720828514369140477.post-51094520215244904452014-01-12T11:14:00.005-08:002014-01-12T11:14:49.059-08:00The Effects of Sleep on the BrainA relatively lengthy article from the New York Times on <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2014/01/12/opinion/sunday/goodnight-sleep-clean.html">how sleep is good for the brain</a>.Stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05808682043728565743noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4720828514369140477.post-76800584011836492492013-09-04T20:14:00.000-07:002013-09-04T20:14:17.878-07:00Sleep Could Produce Cells That Protect The Brain's CircuitryA <a href="http://www.jneurosci.org/content/33/36/14288.abstract">study in the Journal of Neuroscience</a> says that <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-23932577">sleep could produce the cells that create the insulating material known as myeline</a>. The findings are only in mice so far, but may lead to treatment for those with Multiple Sclerosis. The production increased most during REM. It makes me wonder how many more benefits there are to sleep that science hasn't found yet.Stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05808682043728565743noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4720828514369140477.post-77052373277699788522013-04-04T21:40:00.001-07:002013-04-04T21:40:31.775-07:00Scientists Predict Images in Dreams<p>Japanese scientists were able to <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-22031074">predict what images people saw in their dreams using MRI scans</a>, according to <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/">BBC News</a>. They accomplished 60% accuracy.</p>
<p>Who knows, this could eventually lead to a machine that we could hook up to and report what we saw in our dreams. It could be an interesting way to jog the brain to remember the dreams from the previous night.</p>Stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05808682043728565743noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4720828514369140477.post-17291596130735541822012-11-05T20:47:00.000-08:002012-11-05T20:47:49.216-08:00Matt Killingsworth, Track Your Happiness, and the Wandering Mind<iframe src="http://embed.ted.com/talks/matt_killingsworth_want_to_be_happier_stay_in_the_moment.html" width="560" height="315" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" webkitAllowFullScreen mozallowfullscreen allowFullScreen></iframe>
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Matt Killingsworth wondered if staying in the present was important to being happy, so created Track Your Happiness to gather data to try to answer that question. As it turns out, a wandering mind is more likely to be unhappy. Just another reason to meditate!Stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05808682043728565743noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4720828514369140477.post-10665484267792932062012-10-01T20:58:00.000-07:002012-10-01T20:58:17.267-07:00Amy Cuddy On "Power Posing"Amy Cuddy discusses the differences in high-power and low-power posing, how it affects confidence, and how it can change the levels of testosterone and cortisol in the brain.
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