Altering Awareness: Part 2 Biofeedback, Near-Death Experiences, and Meditation

Biofeedback A technique in which a person learns to control his or her physiological processes with the help of feedback A technique in which a person learns to control his or her physiological processes with the help of feedback Brain waves, heart rate, blood pressure, skin temperature, sweat gland activity Brain waves, heart rate, blood pressure, skin temperature, sweat gland activity

Biofeedback (continued) Uses a machine to tell people about very subtle moment-to-moment changes in the body Uses a machine to tell people about very subtle moment-to-moment changes in the body People can then experiment with different thoughts & feelings while they watch how each affects their bodies People can then experiment with different thoughts & feelings while they watch how each affects their bodies In time people learn to change their physiological processes In time people learn to change their physiological processes Try your own miniature (and pretty unofficial) version of biofeedback with Biodots! Try your own miniature (and pretty unofficial) version of biofeedback with Biodots!

Near-Death Experiences After a close brush with death, many people report an experience of moving through a dark tunnel with a light at the end. After a close brush with death, many people report an experience of moving through a dark tunnel with a light at the end. Similarly, under the influence of hallucinogens, others report bright lights at the center of their field of vision. Similarly, under the influence of hallucinogens, others report bright lights at the center of their field of vision. Ronald Siegel argues that the near-death experience is best understood as “hallucinatory activity of the brain” as a result of the brain being deprived of oxygen. Ronald Siegel argues that the near-death experience is best understood as “hallucinatory activity of the brain” as a result of the brain being deprived of oxygen. Refer to pages in your textbook for more information on this topic. Refer to pages in your textbook for more information on this topic. (From “Hallucinations” by R.K. Siegel. Copyright © 1977 Scientific American, Inc. All rights reserved.)

Meditation – What Is It? Meditation is an ancient discipline which has recently become an area of growing interest. Meditation is an ancient discipline which has recently become an area of growing interest. The focusing of attention on an image or thought with the goal of clearing the mind & producing relaxation, or an inner peace (in other words, meditation involves practices that train attention to heighten awareness and bring mental processes under greater voluntary control) The focusing of attention on an image or thought with the goal of clearing the mind & producing relaxation, or an inner peace (in other words, meditation involves practices that train attention to heighten awareness and bring mental processes under greater voluntary control)

3 Types of Meditation  All three of these are rooted in Eastern religions; however, many who meditate do so separately from religious practice. 1. Transcendental Involves the mental repetition of a mantra (“Om”) Involves the mental repetition of a mantra (“Om”) 2. Mindfulness (Zen) Developed from Buddhist tradition Developed from Buddhist tradition Focuses on the present moment Focuses on the present moment Focus through the body from the tips of the toes to the top of the head, while paying particular attention to areas of pain Focus through the body from the tips of the toes to the top of the head, while paying particular attention to areas of pain 3. Breath Concentration on respiration- the process of inhaling and exhaling (for example, yoga) Concentration on respiration- the process of inhaling and exhaling (for example, yoga)

Results & Effects of Meditation Researchers generally agree that most people can benefit from meditation Researchers generally agree that most people can benefit from meditation Lower heart rate, blood pressure, & respiration (similar to effective relaxation procedures) Lower heart rate, blood pressure, & respiration (similar to effective relaxation procedures) Results may be biased Results may be biased Effects of meditation include decreased heart rate, respiration rate, etc., and a relaxed EEG, with predominant theta and alpha rhythm patterns. New research using the CT scan to track blood flow in the brain in experienced Tibetan Buddhist meditators shows high activity in the prefrontal cortex (an area important for focused attention) and low activity in parts of the parietal lobe that are known to process information about the body’s location in space…this may explain some of the transcendent experiences reported by many meditators. Effects of meditation include decreased heart rate, respiration rate, etc., and a relaxed EEG, with predominant theta and alpha rhythm patterns. New research using the CT scan to track blood flow in the brain in experienced Tibetan Buddhist meditators shows high activity in the prefrontal cortex (an area important for focused attention) and low activity in parts of the parietal lobe that are known to process information about the body’s location in space…this may explain some of the transcendent experiences reported by many meditators. Meditation results in a potentially beneficial physiological state whereby bodily arousal is suppressed, but it is unclear how meditation differs from other systematic relaxation training procedures which produce very similar effects. Meditation results in a potentially beneficial physiological state whereby bodily arousal is suppressed, but it is unclear how meditation differs from other systematic relaxation training procedures which produce very similar effects.

Shaolin Monks Watch video here: and another one here: