The Neuroscience of Mindfulness Meditation

Abstract

Google Tech TalksFebruary, 28 2008ABSTRACTMindfulness meditation, one type of meditation technique, has been shown toenhance emotional awareness and psychological flexibility as well as inducewell-being and emotional balance. Scientists have also begun to examine howmeditation may influence brain functions. This talk will examine theeffect of mindfulness meditation practice on the brain systems in whichpsychological functions such as attention, emotional reactivity, emotionregulation, and self-view are instantiated. We will also discuss howdifferent forms of meditation practices are being studied usingneuroscientific technologies and are being integrated into clinicalpractice to address symptoms of anxiety, depression, and stress.Speaker: Philippe GoldinPhilippe is a researchscientist and heads the Clinically Applied Affective Neuroscience group inthe Department of Psychology at Stanford University.He spent 6 years in India and Nepal studying various languages,Buddhist philosophy and debate at Namgyal Monastery and the DialecticMonastic Institute, and serving as an interpreter for various TibetanBuddhist lamas. He then returned to the U.S. to complete a Ph.D. inClinical Psychology at Rutgers University. His NIH-fundedclinical research focuses on (a) functional neuroimaging investigations of cognitive-affective mechanisms in adults with anxiety disorders, (b)comparing the effects of mindfulness meditation and cognitive-behavioraltherapy on brain-behavior correlates of emotional reactivity and regulation, and (c) training children in family and elementary school settings in mindfulness skills to reduce anxiety and enhance compassion, self-esteem and quality of family interactions.