March 25, 2008 by Dian Land
Can we train ourselves to be compassionate? A new study suggests the answer is yes. Cultivating compassion and kindness through meditation affects brain regions that can make a person more empathetic to other peoples' mental states, say researchers at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
Published March 25 in the Public Library of Science One, the study was the first to use functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to indicate that positive emotions such as loving-kindness and compassion can be learned in the same way as playing a musical instrument or being proficient in a sport. The scans revealed that brain circuits used to detect emotions and feelings were dramatically changed in subjects who had extensive experience practicing compassion meditation.
The research suggests that individuals - from children who may engage in bullying to people prone to recurring depression - and society in general could benefit from such meditative practices, says study director Richard Davidson, professor of psychiatry and psychology at UW-Madison and an expert on imaging the effects of meditation. Davidson and UW-Madison associate scientist Antoine Lutz were co-principal investigators on the project.
The study was part of the researchers' ongoing investigations with a group of Tibetan monks and lay practitioners who have practiced meditation for a minimum of 10,000 hours. In this case, Lutz and Davidson worked with 16 monks who have cultivated compassion meditation practices.
Sixteen age-matched controls with no previous training were taught the fundamentals of compassion meditation two weeks before the brain scanning took place."Many contemplative traditions speak of loving-kindness as the wish for happiness for others and of compassion as the wish to relieve others' suffering. Loving-kindness and compassion are central to the Dalai Lama's philosophy and mission," says Davidson, who has worked extensively with the Tibetan Buddhist leader. "We wanted to see how this voluntary generation of compassion affects the brain systems involved in empathy."
Various techniques are used in compassion meditation, and the training can take years of practice. The controls in this study were asked first to concentrate on loved ones, wishing them well-being and freedom from suffering. After some training, they then were asked to generate such feelings toward all beings without thinking specifically about anyone.Each of the 32 subjects was placed in the fMRI scanner at the UW-Madison Waisman Center for Brain Imaging, which Davidson directs, and was asked to either begin compassion meditation or refrain from it.
During each state, subjects were exposed to negative and positive human vocalizations designed to evoke empathic responses as well as neutral vocalizations: sounds of a distressed woman, a baby laughing and background restaurant noise."We used audio instead of visual challenges so that meditators could keep their eyes slightly open but not focused on any visual stimulus, as is typical of this practice," explains Lutz.The scans revealed significant activity in the insula - a region near the frontal portion of the brain that plays a key role in bodily representations of emotion - when the long-term meditators were generating compassion and were exposed to emotional vocalizations. The strength of insula activation was also associated with the intensity of the meditation as assessed by the participants."The insula is extremely important in detecting emotions in general and specifically in mapping bodily responses to emotion - such as heart rate and blood pressure - and making that information available to other parts of the brain," says Davidson, also co-director of the HealthEmotions Research Institute.
Activity also increased in the temporal parietal juncture, particularly the right hemisphere. Studies have implicated this area as important in processing empathy, especially in perceiving the mental and emotional state of others."Both of these areas have been linked to emotion sharing and empathy," Davidson says. "The combination of these two effects, which was much more noticeable in the expert meditators as opposed to the novices, was very powerful."The findings support Davidson and Lutz's working assumption that through training, people can develop skills that promote happiness and compassion."People are not just stuck at their respective set points," he says. "We can take advantage of our brain's plasticity and train it to enhance these qualities."The capacity to cultivate compassion, which involves regulating thoughts and emotions, may also be useful for preventing depression in people who are susceptible to it, Lutz adds."Thinking about other people's suffering and not just your own helps to put everything in perspective," he says, adding that learning compassion for oneself is a critical first step in compassion meditation.
The researchers are interested in teaching compassion meditation to youngsters, particularly as they approach adolescence, as a way to prevent bullying, aggression and violence."I think this can be one of the tools we use to teach emotional regulation to kids who are at an age where they're vulnerable to going seriously off track," Davidson says.
Compassion meditation can be beneficial in promoting more harmonious relationships of all kinds, Davidson adds."The world certainly could use a little more kindness and compassion," he says. "Starting at a local level, the consequences of changing in this way can be directly experienced."Lutz and Davidson hope to conduct additional studies to evaluate brain changes that may occur in individuals who cultivate positive emotions through the practice of loving-kindness and compassion over time.
Tuesday, April 8, 2008
MMA for kids
I was sent this link with a TV news clip on kids competing in MMA. http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/story?id=4542356&page=1. I sent it around to see what kind of response it would get. Interesting that most who did respond didn't like the idea but one said those opposed (in the article) were just liberal women who want to "de-ball" our kids. Here's my take.
I teach people how to fight. I taught kids how to fight. I think learning to fight is a good thing; that's why I'm a professional instructor. I don't agree with kids going into a ring as in this clip. Not just for MMA. I don't think kids should box either. Read some of the articles in this blog on brain damage and you'll see why. I also disagree because of the possibility of joint injury and damage to growth plates in children.
It's not just that they may use locks and pins, etc. It's rather easy to hurt yourself throwing a hard punch that misses, over-extending the elbow. And what if one of the little guys does manage to knock out another kid? Anyone up for having a drool cup for the rest of their life?
You can largely control these things in a classroom but putting kids in a cage? They put Michael Vick in jail for doing it with dogs. Just because adults do it doesn't mean there has to be a junior version.
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This was sent just a day after I wrote this.
April 7, 2008, 10:36PM
Brain injury called cause of Houston fighter's death
Steve Sievert For the Chronicle
Houston mixed martial artist Sam Vasquez died from a severe brain injury, according to the Harris County Medical Examiner's Office.
The 35-year-old Vasquez died Nov. 30 after being knocked out by San Antonio's Vince Libardi in the third round of a Renegades Extreme Fighting bout Oct. 20 at Toyota Center in Houston. After being hospitalized, Vasquez suffered a stroke, endured two surgeries to remove blood clots in his brain and spent weeks in intensive care.
The official ruling from the medical examiner's office stated that Vasquez died of "complications from blunt trauma to the head with subdural hemorrhage." Due to a significant backlog of cases at the medical examiner's office, it took four months to complete the necessary tests to determine definitively the cause of death.
Most subdural hemorrhages are triggered by impact to the head, resulting from a car accident or severe fall. It's an injury rarely seen in mixed martial arts, according to Dr. Johnny Benjamin, chief of orthopedic surgery at Indian River Medical Center in Vero Beach, Fla., and a sports-medicine specialist who's consulted with a number of fighters.
I teach people how to fight. I taught kids how to fight. I think learning to fight is a good thing; that's why I'm a professional instructor. I don't agree with kids going into a ring as in this clip. Not just for MMA. I don't think kids should box either. Read some of the articles in this blog on brain damage and you'll see why. I also disagree because of the possibility of joint injury and damage to growth plates in children.
It's not just that they may use locks and pins, etc. It's rather easy to hurt yourself throwing a hard punch that misses, over-extending the elbow. And what if one of the little guys does manage to knock out another kid? Anyone up for having a drool cup for the rest of their life?
You can largely control these things in a classroom but putting kids in a cage? They put Michael Vick in jail for doing it with dogs. Just because adults do it doesn't mean there has to be a junior version.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
This was sent just a day after I wrote this.
April 7, 2008, 10:36PM
Brain injury called cause of Houston fighter's death
Steve Sievert For the Chronicle
Houston mixed martial artist Sam Vasquez died from a severe brain injury, according to the Harris County Medical Examiner's Office.
The 35-year-old Vasquez died Nov. 30 after being knocked out by San Antonio's Vince Libardi in the third round of a Renegades Extreme Fighting bout Oct. 20 at Toyota Center in Houston. After being hospitalized, Vasquez suffered a stroke, endured two surgeries to remove blood clots in his brain and spent weeks in intensive care.
The official ruling from the medical examiner's office stated that Vasquez died of "complications from blunt trauma to the head with subdural hemorrhage." Due to a significant backlog of cases at the medical examiner's office, it took four months to complete the necessary tests to determine definitively the cause of death.
Most subdural hemorrhages are triggered by impact to the head, resulting from a car accident or severe fall. It's an injury rarely seen in mixed martial arts, according to Dr. Johnny Benjamin, chief of orthopedic surgery at Indian River Medical Center in Vero Beach, Fla., and a sports-medicine specialist who's consulted with a number of fighters.
The doctor is in
Dr. Rowe sent along this interesting article about brain plasticity. It mentions a study that shows thinking about something versus actually doing it does help rewire the brain. Some of us who tell our students to sit and think about the techniques and forms when they can't work out actually do have a leg to stand on.
This electrochemical exchange is the basis of brain cell communication. It is also the premise for the formation of neural networks. These networks are formed during early childhood and are responsible for particular brain tasks, such as learning, pattern recognition and problem-solving. It was believed that once neural networks were formed, they would remain 'hard-wired' or inflexible. However, research in the past two decades has indicated that this is not the reality: our neural networks are in fact adaptive, flexible and responsive to change.Rewiring is the KeySo what does it really mean to have a plastic brain? It has many implications to human behavior and learning patterns. Primarily, it defies the old adage that "an old dog cannot learn new tricks". It is clear that with age, it becomes increasingly more difficult to learn new things. However, the brain's ability to adapt to change perpetuates throughout an individual's lifetime.A prominent case of neuroplasticity happened with a patient who spent 19 years in a coma. Terry Wallis, a 19 year old man from Massachusetts (US), woke up after spending 19 years in a minimally conscious state. When scientists scanned his brain combining PET (Positron Emission Tomography) and DTI (Diffusion Tensor Imaging) technologies, they found evidence that Wallis's brain had "developed new pathways and completely novel anatomical structures to re-establish functional connections, compensating for the brain pathways lost in the accident" (New Scientist, 03/07/2006).Other cases, including stroke victims, people who have lost sensorial abilities (e.g. visually impaired) and individuals who have suffered cortical injuries show similar conclusions after researchers have investigated how they have recovered, or how the brain rewired itself to compensate for the damaged areas and lost functions. The process of rewiring occurs when new connections (synapses) between neurons are formed and, if they prove to be favorable, they are likely to become more permanent and stabilized. This process allows the brain circuitry to be malleable to changes, or in other words, to form 'uncommon' networks under particular conditions.Learning and PlasticityBrain plasticity is not restricted to unplanned circumstances, such as accidents, brain traumas and other critical instances that require rewiring to re-establish functional connections. Learning is also a major beneficiary of brain plasticity. Studies with musicians and athletes have shown that particular areas of the brain responsible for 'fine' or 'specific' movements in certain parts of the body (e.g. the hands of a pianist or string musician) are in fact rewired for optimization. Once training becomes a routine, and particular movements are repeated over and over again, the tendency is that neuronal connections will become more permanent.But there is more to it. Physical contact is not a requirement when it comes to rewiring. Repeated thinking can also trigger a series of reactions which result in brain rewiring. Scientists have investigated the formation of synapses as a result of 'thinking about doing something' and found that, from a neuronal perspective, thinking can be as useful as doing. This evidence led to an interesting fusion of interests between Buddhist meditation (through the Dalai Lama's interest on the influence of the mind over the brain) and the scientific research on brain plasticity and the formation of neural networks. It seems that brain plasticity is a flexible topic as well as a flexible concept.Mind Your ThoughtsLearning and plasticity took center stage when collaborative research was conducted with lamas (Buddhist equivalent for priests or spiritual leaders). It seems that, as a result of ongoing meditation through a technique called Mindfulness (which aims to improve the person's control and awareness of thoughts and emotions), the lamas were 'more able' to attain emotional balance and to concentrate.Some of these studies include experiments performed by Dr. Kabat-Zinn (who taught mindfulness to workers in a high-pressure biotech business and concluded that stress levels were optimized over a short period of time) and Dr. Ekman's tests involving emotional expression detections. "The mindfulness training focuses on learning to monitor the continuing sensations and thoughts more closely, both in sitting meditation and in activities like yoga exercises" (NY Times, 04/02/2003).The benefits of meditation through brain rewiring, from a non-religious perspective, are becoming clearer and quite appealing. Currently, there are therapeutic techniques that mix mindfulness with other mainstream therapies such as Cognitive Behavior Therapy. These have proven particularly useful for cases of depression and anxiety, for example.Stepping Into the UnknownBrain plasticity has become a major topic of study. As modern scanning technologies enable scientists to observe the formation of synapses under particular stimuli, and experiment with living organisms, the applications of this knowledge are reaching a range of research fields. Some scientists have promoted the idea of using stimulation to improve learning, however, at a neurochemical level. Others like the idea of meditation and 'wishful thinking' to empower the process of learning and to optimize the performance of certain tasks.This collaborative approach from representatives of a non-dogmatic religion such as Buddhism, cognitive researchers and neuroscientists seems to be opening an attractive scope on the concept of brain plasticity. How far will this go? Hard to say, but nevertheless: very interesting to mind.
This electrochemical exchange is the basis of brain cell communication. It is also the premise for the formation of neural networks. These networks are formed during early childhood and are responsible for particular brain tasks, such as learning, pattern recognition and problem-solving. It was believed that once neural networks were formed, they would remain 'hard-wired' or inflexible. However, research in the past two decades has indicated that this is not the reality: our neural networks are in fact adaptive, flexible and responsive to change.Rewiring is the KeySo what does it really mean to have a plastic brain? It has many implications to human behavior and learning patterns. Primarily, it defies the old adage that "an old dog cannot learn new tricks". It is clear that with age, it becomes increasingly more difficult to learn new things. However, the brain's ability to adapt to change perpetuates throughout an individual's lifetime.A prominent case of neuroplasticity happened with a patient who spent 19 years in a coma. Terry Wallis, a 19 year old man from Massachusetts (US), woke up after spending 19 years in a minimally conscious state. When scientists scanned his brain combining PET (Positron Emission Tomography) and DTI (Diffusion Tensor Imaging) technologies, they found evidence that Wallis's brain had "developed new pathways and completely novel anatomical structures to re-establish functional connections, compensating for the brain pathways lost in the accident" (New Scientist, 03/07/2006).Other cases, including stroke victims, people who have lost sensorial abilities (e.g. visually impaired) and individuals who have suffered cortical injuries show similar conclusions after researchers have investigated how they have recovered, or how the brain rewired itself to compensate for the damaged areas and lost functions. The process of rewiring occurs when new connections (synapses) between neurons are formed and, if they prove to be favorable, they are likely to become more permanent and stabilized. This process allows the brain circuitry to be malleable to changes, or in other words, to form 'uncommon' networks under particular conditions.Learning and PlasticityBrain plasticity is not restricted to unplanned circumstances, such as accidents, brain traumas and other critical instances that require rewiring to re-establish functional connections. Learning is also a major beneficiary of brain plasticity. Studies with musicians and athletes have shown that particular areas of the brain responsible for 'fine' or 'specific' movements in certain parts of the body (e.g. the hands of a pianist or string musician) are in fact rewired for optimization. Once training becomes a routine, and particular movements are repeated over and over again, the tendency is that neuronal connections will become more permanent.But there is more to it. Physical contact is not a requirement when it comes to rewiring. Repeated thinking can also trigger a series of reactions which result in brain rewiring. Scientists have investigated the formation of synapses as a result of 'thinking about doing something' and found that, from a neuronal perspective, thinking can be as useful as doing. This evidence led to an interesting fusion of interests between Buddhist meditation (through the Dalai Lama's interest on the influence of the mind over the brain) and the scientific research on brain plasticity and the formation of neural networks. It seems that brain plasticity is a flexible topic as well as a flexible concept.Mind Your ThoughtsLearning and plasticity took center stage when collaborative research was conducted with lamas (Buddhist equivalent for priests or spiritual leaders). It seems that, as a result of ongoing meditation through a technique called Mindfulness (which aims to improve the person's control and awareness of thoughts and emotions), the lamas were 'more able' to attain emotional balance and to concentrate.Some of these studies include experiments performed by Dr. Kabat-Zinn (who taught mindfulness to workers in a high-pressure biotech business and concluded that stress levels were optimized over a short period of time) and Dr. Ekman's tests involving emotional expression detections. "The mindfulness training focuses on learning to monitor the continuing sensations and thoughts more closely, both in sitting meditation and in activities like yoga exercises" (NY Times, 04/02/2003).The benefits of meditation through brain rewiring, from a non-religious perspective, are becoming clearer and quite appealing. Currently, there are therapeutic techniques that mix mindfulness with other mainstream therapies such as Cognitive Behavior Therapy. These have proven particularly useful for cases of depression and anxiety, for example.Stepping Into the UnknownBrain plasticity has become a major topic of study. As modern scanning technologies enable scientists to observe the formation of synapses under particular stimuli, and experiment with living organisms, the applications of this knowledge are reaching a range of research fields. Some scientists have promoted the idea of using stimulation to improve learning, however, at a neurochemical level. Others like the idea of meditation and 'wishful thinking' to empower the process of learning and to optimize the performance of certain tasks.This collaborative approach from representatives of a non-dogmatic religion such as Buddhism, cognitive researchers and neuroscientists seems to be opening an attractive scope on the concept of brain plasticity. How far will this go? Hard to say, but nevertheless: very interesting to mind.
Monday, April 7, 2008
Seattle Lineage Camp
I'm back from the Northwest, where I taught at the invitation of Tom Graves at his Lineage Camp. Tom and his wife, Byanca, put together a nice event at the Doubletree hotel near the airport. Nice hotel, great group to work with, good food at the Saturday night banquet, and a positive atmosphere. It was actually John Sepulveda who invited me, and I always enjoy the time I get to spend with him. Mr. Steve Labounty (pictured) taught as well, and the talks we have are memorable. Mr. Bob White from Southern CA was there for the banquet, too. I hadn't seen him in years and it was good to have him around.
This camp is well-named, as the lineage is present in action - not just words. The discipline, courtesy, respect, and friendship Prof. Sepulveda practices is evident down to the white belts.
Kyle Zwarg came along, flying up from Ft. Myers, as well as Tony Velada and Rick Vecchi from Chicago. They all enjoyed the event as well. In fact, Tony and Rick surprised me by showing up there. I didn't expect them and it was a pleasant surprise.
All in all a well-organized camp at a nice facility that was easy to reach with a lots of friendly people. Watch for it next year in April.
This camp is well-named, as the lineage is present in action - not just words. The discipline, courtesy, respect, and friendship Prof. Sepulveda practices is evident down to the white belts.
Kyle Zwarg came along, flying up from Ft. Myers, as well as Tony Velada and Rick Vecchi from Chicago. They all enjoyed the event as well. In fact, Tony and Rick surprised me by showing up there. I didn't expect them and it was a pleasant surprise.
All in all a well-organized camp at a nice facility that was easy to reach with a lots of friendly people. Watch for it next year in April.
Nang
I have a student here in Ft. Myers who goes by the name of Nang. Her given name is Suwannasri, she's Thai. Nang is a brown belt and now a practicing massage therapist. She learned Thai massage at home in Bangkok, went to massage school here in the US, and also has a degree as a physical therapy assistant. She's a practicing martial artist and learning the tau chi sword and some Japanese sword work with another instructor. Her son and husband do the Japanese sword, too, with her son also being a junior black under me.
All that said, Nang combines the body work modalities into something special. That, combined with a fantastic disposition, make her truly something special. I credit her with getting my range of motion back in my shoulder after having damaged it a few years back. My physical therapist was useless and Nang got me back on track.
If you're in the Ft. Myers area, make an appointment. 826-8958.
All that said, Nang combines the body work modalities into something special. That, combined with a fantastic disposition, make her truly something special. I credit her with getting my range of motion back in my shoulder after having damaged it a few years back. My physical therapist was useless and Nang got me back on track.
If you're in the Ft. Myers area, make an appointment. 826-8958.
Tuesday, April 1, 2008
PA seminar
My visit to Brian Price's studio in Leesport, PA was great. Mr. Price and his people are a great group. The kids class was big fun, and adults came from other schools as well, resulting in two well-attended seminars. The subjects were family groupings and I covered some self-defense concepts using an idea of breaking a technique in half.
I'm looking forward to going back later this year.
I'm looking forward to going back later this year.
The doctor is in
Dr. Rowe found this and passed it on to me about tai chi and diabetes.
London, Apr 1: Tai Chi Chuan, the traditional Chinese martial arts exercises, could help curb symptoms of type 2 diabetes, according to a new study.The study suggested that Tai Chi might prompt a fall in blood glucose levels, or improve blood glucose metabolism, triggering a drop in the inflammatory response, reports the British Medical Journal.The findings of the study indicate that regular Tai Chi Chuan exercise improves T cell helper function of patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus with an increase in T-bet transcription factor and IL-12 production.T cells are a vital constituent of the body's immune system, which generate powerful chemicals, including interleukins (ILs), which alter the immune response.For the study, the scientists examined the impact of a 12-week programme of Tai Chi exercises on the T helper cell activity of 30 patients with type 2 diabetes and 30 healthy people of the same age.The researchers observed that at the end of the 12-week programme, there was a significant fall of 7.59 percent to 7.16 percent in the glycated haemoglobin levels in the diabetic patients. It was found that the levels of interleukin-12, which boosts the immune response, doubled; while the levels of interleukin-4, which suppresses the immune response fell. In addition, there was a significant increase in T cell activity.The authors of the study said that strenuous physical activity result in disruption of the immune system response, but moderate exercise appears to trigger the opposite effect. Tai Chi is classified as moderate exercise.Previous research has shown that it boosts cardiovascular and respiratory function, as well as improving flexibility and relieving stress, they added.Tai Chi may prompt a fall in blood glucose levels, or improve blood glucose metabolism, sparking a drop in the inflammatory response.In a separate study, a 12 week programme of Tai Chi and Qigong (another Chinese exercise) prompted a significant fall in blood glucose levels and significant improvements in other indicators of the metabolic syndrome in 11 middle aged to older adults.The metabolic syndrome is a cluster of symptoms, including high blood pressure and high blood glucose that is associated with increased risks of cardiovascular disease and diabetes.The study was published ahead of print in the British Journal of Sports Medicine. (ANI)
London, Apr 1: Tai Chi Chuan, the traditional Chinese martial arts exercises, could help curb symptoms of type 2 diabetes, according to a new study.The study suggested that Tai Chi might prompt a fall in blood glucose levels, or improve blood glucose metabolism, triggering a drop in the inflammatory response, reports the British Medical Journal.The findings of the study indicate that regular Tai Chi Chuan exercise improves T cell helper function of patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus with an increase in T-bet transcription factor and IL-12 production.T cells are a vital constituent of the body's immune system, which generate powerful chemicals, including interleukins (ILs), which alter the immune response.For the study, the scientists examined the impact of a 12-week programme of Tai Chi exercises on the T helper cell activity of 30 patients with type 2 diabetes and 30 healthy people of the same age.The researchers observed that at the end of the 12-week programme, there was a significant fall of 7.59 percent to 7.16 percent in the glycated haemoglobin levels in the diabetic patients. It was found that the levels of interleukin-12, which boosts the immune response, doubled; while the levels of interleukin-4, which suppresses the immune response fell. In addition, there was a significant increase in T cell activity.The authors of the study said that strenuous physical activity result in disruption of the immune system response, but moderate exercise appears to trigger the opposite effect. Tai Chi is classified as moderate exercise.Previous research has shown that it boosts cardiovascular and respiratory function, as well as improving flexibility and relieving stress, they added.Tai Chi may prompt a fall in blood glucose levels, or improve blood glucose metabolism, sparking a drop in the inflammatory response.In a separate study, a 12 week programme of Tai Chi and Qigong (another Chinese exercise) prompted a significant fall in blood glucose levels and significant improvements in other indicators of the metabolic syndrome in 11 middle aged to older adults.The metabolic syndrome is a cluster of symptoms, including high blood pressure and high blood glucose that is associated with increased risks of cardiovascular disease and diabetes.The study was published ahead of print in the British Journal of Sports Medicine. (ANI)
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