NEUROSCIENCE AND MEDITATIONRao Mallampati

INTRODUCTION

Neuroplasticity The fact that brain tissue

can change its own structure and function in response to mental, bodily and environmental experiences is an important observation in Neuroscience.

Unified understanding of mind, body & environment (internal & external) Are being looked at more

& more as one unit

AGELESS QUESTIONS

Can our thoughts transform the brain and mind? •Can we simply think the good and pleasant thoughts and change the molecular structure of the brain and thus influence the mind?

Does it mean the substrate on which

the thoughts

arise from, change itself by

the thought?

What exactly is

the relation between

epistemology and the ontology?

In terms of neuroscience mind is what the nervous system

does .What else could there be?

How can we use our contempor

ary knowledge

of neuroscience of brain functions

to aid, support, benefit and/or

compliment our

meditational

practice?

Can we build better

bridges to enhance

the synergies between science

and contemplat

ive practice?

BRAIN Mind is a realm of one’s awareness,

feelings, sensations, and mental images. Consists of desires that we brood over,

the passions that haunt us, the decisions we make and agonize over.

In sum it is the content of our entire consciousness.

Brain is merely a carbon based meat on which all the above happens in an electro chemical form.

Shaped by millions of years of evolution the human brain undergoes embryonic growth repeating the cumulative Phylogeny of the above for millions of years

Always working never resting. 2% of the body weight consumes 25% of the oxygen intake.

1.1 trillions cells100 billion of them are grey matter neurons.

reptilian and early mammalian functional structures.

Brain is encased and well protected in the bony skull; it weighs about 2 kilograms on average.

SYNAPSES

About 1000 synapses connect each neuron, amounting to 100 trillion synapses in all

Synapses are the tiny gaps between the nerve fibers where the electrochemical neuro transmission takes place.

Each synapse fires up to 100 time per second; firing is the process of neuro transmission

INTERCONNECTIVITY

Extremely interconnected network consisting of continuous circular loops.

Each region of the brain is synchronized by brain waves of different lengths milliseconds apart.

Continually learning and changing throughout the life span.

Focus of the cortical brain tissue in particular is on its logical, linguistic and linear thought, including social, emotional and conceptual capabilities.

The number of possible brain states are an incredible number of 1 to the power of one million zeros. It is the most complex structure known in the universe

PROTECTIVE HARD-WIRING

Necessity of protective hard-wiringIf we can imagine our early reptilian and mammalian ancestors absorbed in pleasant feelings and sensations of good meal, warm rocks to lay on, enjoyable sunlight and are unaware of the predatory dangers lurking around, the species extinction would be an obvious result.

Hard Wired Protection & Importance of uncontrollable reflexThe species that survived this pernicious predicament are the ones that propagated and multiplied their gene pool. They are constantly aware of the dangers surrounding them, and developed protective propensities to save themselves. They are Hard-Wired to instantly recall the possible threats and possible signs of danger around them. These hard wired circuits are built in the brain stem structures of Amygdala, Hippocampus and other related areas. In sum the brain is hard wired to scan for the bad and instantly finds negative things and gets stored in the immediate memory systems.

The flight or fight responseThe tendency to see the rope on the street in marginal light as a snake that can harm or kill will protect the organism. This suddenly brings about the cascade of protective reactions resulting in the so called “Flight or Fight” response.

SLOW POSITIVE WIRING & DUKKHAPositive, happy experiences register in conscious & standard memory systems. 20 seconds to sink in and to get registered.

Recall not as quick & instantaneous as negative experiences

negative bias for survival instinct puts the negative spin over the whole world that surrounds us.

A rabbit that is about to become a dinner for some one else is not interested in cultivating perpetual happiness, but to escape from the present predicament

This teleological atavism seems to be the origin of existential predicament of unhappiness “Dukkha”

These cumulative experiences result in building up very strong implicit memory. Leads to darkening the interior landscape, depressed feelings, periodic mood swings and general unhappiness.

THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE SELF

We are evolved to see the world around us as made up of discrete and separate objects.

We think and see ourselves as separate individual “Self” as opposed to “other Selves”.

This again appears to an evolutionary necessity leading to arising of the “Dukkha”.

In reality is there separateness?

THE SELFISH GENE

This evolutionary success propagated the so called “Selfish Gene”.

Mother Nature is more tilted and tuned to protect its grand children than to cultivate “Gross National Happiness”.

structural hard wired inclinations built in the Amygdala, Hippocampus and Autonomic nervous system

instant protection to preserve species

CULTURAL ORIGINS OF DUKKHA We are all the products of nature as well as nurture. Cultural conditioning is a major cause of many problems

that cause “Dukkha”. Religions arose in an effort to explicate the inexplicable,

control the uncontrollable, make bearable the unbearable. Belief in a higher power became the most powerful

innovation in late human evolution. Tribes with strong religious beliefs had direction and purpose, motivation and mission.

The thirst for belief systems is almost an embedded component of their genetic existence.

Branched into many toxic beliefs like caste, creed, class and race.

Mimetic beliefs resulted in religious zealotry leading to proselytizing

These many factors of social conditioning seem to result in the contemporary unhappiness.

MINDFULNESS & POSITIVE MENTAL STATES

Our practice of mindfulness (Zazen) recognizes many of these innate negatives as hindrances.

Zen practice can function as an antidote for biological as well as cultural conditioning.

We can overcome this innate neurobiological tilt towards negative by own deliberate effort to enhance the positive.

The following methods may be of some help. Focus on sensations and feelings of our positive experiences

these pathways lead to accumulation positive emotional memory and to well being.

Make positive events become positive experiences. Notice things that really go well, and people who are kind to us. Hold the moments of success and

joy. Not noticing the good and holding the altruism and compassion is a form of ignorance. Fundamentally it is the ignorance, illusion, hatred and not seeing the things as they are that leads to the suffering.

Prolong pleasant sense experiences Hold the pleasant thoughts for half minute. These then register into our long term emotional

memory. These positive memory states become enduring traits. These traits become causes of a wholesome cyclic process leading to build neural feedback loops.

ZAZEN AND THE BRAINNew

synaptic connections, thickening of

the left frontal brain

lobe

• Physiological Connection: control of attention and general sensory awareness, reasoning logic linguistics and linearity.

Increased levels of

serotonin at the synaptic

level

Physiological Connection: Serotonin is the neurotransmitter that regulates the mood, sleep and general feeling of well being andoverall happiness.

Benefit: Depressive feelings are dissipated and thus gives free attention for psychological growth and spiritual development.

Delayed Serotonin reuptake; chemicals stay at the synapse for

a longer time

• Physiological Connection: Timely Serotonin reuptake is necessary for balanced psychological states. Depression results as a result of quick dissipation of serotonin at synaptic level

• Benefit: Psychological well-being and Eudemonia

Increased Dopamine

• Physiological Connection: Dopamine lowers neural irritability

• Benefit: It alters brain wave patterns indicative of optimal regional synchronization resulting in sustained calmness by minimizing neuronal irritability.

ZAZEN AND THE BRAIN “neurons that fire

together, wire together”: Donald Hebb

Positive and happy thoughts leave behind everlasting marks in the brain tissue.

Negative tendencies and views can create perpetual anxieties that lead you to suffer.

The moment to moment experience of mindfulness practice does matter scientifically.

ZAZEN AND THE NERVOUS SYSTEM

Positive feedback loops seem to reinforce themselves.The left frontal lobe becomes increasingly active compared to right side; we are more prone to positive emotions of friendliness, kindness sympathetic joy and equanimity.

The circuitry involved in Autonomic nervous system can be soothed by release of parasympathetic hormones like Acetyl Choline that can dampen the cascade of stress reactions.

CAVEATS This neurological reductionism may be an

over simplification of the more complex underlying processes: There are merely links about:

a. Fear complex and Amygdala b. Mirror neurons and empathy c. Loving kindness and Oxytocin d. High frequency brainwaves and meditative absorption.

They are ongoing research and not settled facts by any means

Over generalization that meditation always helps is not really true. Underlying pathological conditions need professional help. We should always be aware of this fact.

SUMMARY With mindfulness and little skilfulness, you can use

own mind to change your brain and benefit your whole being and every one around you. You can practically change your internal and external environment.

Knowing more about the brain/mind interactions can only deepen our conviction that traditional meditational practice does work.

Buddha clearly stated in the Kalama sutra, “see for yourself” - test it like a gold smith tests for the purity of the metal.

What really matters: Being kind to your self by creating wholesome experiences

doing good for others and minimizing harmful feelings, experiences

APPENDIX