Page 85 - Demo

83This study used a brain imaging technique called functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI), which shows which areas of the brain increase (light) or decrease (dark) in blood fl ow, which indicates the increase or decrease in activity in different areas of the brain. The pattern of blood fl ow during Transcendental Meditation (TM) practice indicates a state of restful alertness. During TM, we are seeing increased blood fl ow (light) in the executive frontal cortical brain areas, which correlates with increased inner awareness during TM. At the same time, we see changes associated with deep relaxation, as indicated by reduced activity in the brainstem and cerebellum, shown in the circled dark areas. Reduced activity in the brainstem is associated with slower breathing, reduced heart rate, and decreased blood pressure, if it is too high. The cerebellum is generally understood as governing muscle tone, balance, and coordination of motor activity. Decreased activity in this area corresponds to a deeply relaxed body during TM practice. We see in this that TM is simultaneously affecting the brain at its most basic level, the brainstem, and at its highest level, the frontal lobes, the %u201cChief Executive Offi cer%u201d of the brain. This is different from what we see in drowsiness and sleep, where frontal blood fl ow decreases, corresponding to the loss of awareness. Other meditation techniques do not produce this pattern. TM produces a unique state of restful alertness that has proven highly benefi cial for allowing the body%u2019s self-repair mechanisms to effi ciently repair damage in the physiology.AlertnessIncreasedactivity infrontalexecutivecortexcorrespondsto innerawareness.Brain Imaging During TMA Portrait of Restful AlertnessRestfulDecreasedactivity in thebrainstem andcerebellumcorrespondsto decreasedrespiration,heart rate, andmovement.SAGPtm-004PROFOUND REST & SETTLED AWARENESSReference: Mahone, M. C., Travis, F., Gevirtz, R., & Hubbard, D. (2018). fMRI during Transcendental Meditation practice. Brain and Cognition, 123, 30%u201333.