Memory Disorders Clinic Duke
Copyright (c) 2008 SharpBrains
Travel back in your mind's eye at a time when I felt a healthy exhaustion after hiking, biking, playing sports .., and let relive that moment as vividly as possible.
Then, remembering, re-experience, an exchange of love that really touched you. Pause. See your partner. See time. Smell it. What happened around him.
Next, visualize the most caring gesture you have received, so full detail as possible. Who gave the gift of caring. How you felt.
Now, travel to the most beautiful you've seen. Enjoy views. Pause. Listen. Smile. Appreciate.
Congratulations. He has trained his brain. As Newsweek Sharon Begley explained recently:
"But now neuroscientists have documented how "mere" thoughts can also sculpt the brain. Just thinking about playing a piano piece, and again, can broaden the region of the motor cortex that controls the fingers, thinking about depressive thoughts in new ways can dial by activity in a part of the brain that underlies depression and an increase in another, leading to clinical improvement. "
We talked about the value of meditation before. Only a few days ago in predicting trends of brain health for the next 5 years, I wrote that:
"Noncomputer based programs also be effective tools. Research is increasingly asserting the value of methods such as meditation to train attention and regulate emotions, using cognitive therapy to build self-motivation and other skills, and keep a gratitude journal to affirm the positive in life and improve self-reported happiness.
A new study fascinating (mindfulness meditation training in adults and adolescents with ADHD. Journal of Attention Disorders, 11, 737-746) suggests that the benefits of care for adolescents and adults with attention deficit.
Let's see what Dr. David Rabiner, Director of Undergraduate Studies in the Department of Psychology and Neuroscience Duke University, has to say about this topic:
"The focus is meditation rate of 3 basic steps: 1) to draw attention to the bar of a "care" such as breathing, 2) noting that distraction occurs and letting go of distraction, and, 3) refocusing back to the "anchor of attention." This sequence is repeated several times during each session of meditation. As the individual becomes better able to maintain focus on the anchor of the attention, the notion of "paying attention to attention" is introduced and individuals are encouraged to bring your attention in the present moment frequently during the course of the day. "
"By directing one's attention to the process of care, to realize when one is distracted and to focus attention when distraction occurs, the mindfulness meditation training can be thought of as "training of care "program. Therefore, examining the impact of such training on individuals with ADHD becomes a very interesting issue to follow."
The results of the study?
Seventy-eight percent of participants (25 of 33) completed the study. On average, participants attended 7 of the 8 sessions weekly training. Adults reported an average of 90 minutes and 4.6 sessions per week starting in practice meditation; teens average of 43 minutes and 4 sessions weekly practice at home. Both teenagers and adults who completed the program reported high levels of satisfaction with it – average scores above 9 in a scale of 1 to 10 of satisfaction.
Seventy-eight percent of participants reported a reduction in total ADHD symptoms, with 30% of reporting at least a 30% reduction in symptoms (a 30% reduction of symptoms is often used to identify clinically improved significant in ADHD medication trials). Because most participants were receiving drug treatment for many this decrease represents an improvement above and beyond what is already provided start medication.
Power neurocognitive test results, significant improvements were found the extent of conflicts of attention and several other neuropsychological tests (ie, Stroop color-word test and Trails A and B) but not for measures of memory work.
For adults, there were significant reductions in depressive symptoms and anxiety. Comparable reductions in these symptoms were not evident in teens
In summary: In order to combat attention deficit … no sense to develop the "mental muscles" to pay attention?
About the Author:
Alvaro Fernandez is the CEO and Co-Founder of SharpBrains.com, which tracks the brain fitness field including products developed by Posit Science and Dakim. SharpBrains has been recognized by Scientific American Mind, Newsweek, Forbes. Alvaro holds MA in Education and MBA from Stanford University, and teaches The Science of Brain Health at UC-Berkeley Lifelong Learning Institute. You can learn more at http://www.sharpbrains.com/
Article Source: ArticlesBase.com – Study: Meditation Can Help Adults and Children With Adhd
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