Effects of Meditation on Cerebral Activity

Effects of Meditation on Cerebral Activity Doris L. Scheer Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania conducted the first functional neuroimaging study to demonstrate changes in cerebral activity during glossolalia (A.B. Newberg et al., 2006). It’s not difficult to find research on Buddhist practices such as meditation but few researchers have conducted studies on Christian practices such as glossolalia. In fact, this was the first time that researchers took brain images during this phenomenon. Glossolalia is a spiritual practice or a worship expression that is referred to as speaking or praying in tongues. This mental state induces a spiritual experience in which incomprehensible language is produced without control. It is known that the frontal lobes are involved in willful control of behaviors (Frith et al., 1991; Pardo et al., 1991). Therefore, it was hypothesized that glossolalia, associated with the perceived loss of intentional control, would be associated with decreased activity in the frontal lobes compared with singing. T he SPECT technique used in this study measures regional cerebral blood flow that correlates closely with cerebral activity (Newberg et al., 2006). CBF ratios were compared between the glossolalia and singing state using a paired t-test (Minitab Statistical Software, 2000). Several significant rCBF differences were found, and the brain images taken while speaking in tongues showed minimal activity in both the frontal lobes and language centers of the brain. This discovery leads us to question how they were even capable of producing this behavior. The Old and New Testaments of the bible says that this ability comes from the holy spirit—our means of communicating with god, but how these women were able to speak without using the region of the brain that controls speaking is a mystery that neuroscience is trying to uncover. The research design involved a nonexperimental method in which relationships are studied by making observations or measures of the variables of interest. This may be done by asking people to describe their behavior, directly observing behavior, and/or recording physiological responses. In all these cases, variables are observed as they occur naturally (p. 77, P.C. Cozby and S.C. Bates, 2012). In this study, cerebral activity during glossolalia and singing were compared by measuring the cerebral blood flow ratios between each state by using a paired t-test. Because the nonexperimental method allows us to observe covariation between variables, another term that is frequently used to describe this procedure is the correlational method. With this method, researchers examine whether the variables correlate or vary together (p. 78, Cozby and Bates, 2012). The laboratory experiment setting permits researchers to more easily keep extraneous variables constant, thereby eliminating their influ ence on the outcome of the experiment (e.g. distractions). However, it is precisely this control that leads to the artificiality of the laboratory investigation (rather than their natural setting such as church or home). Fortunately, when researchers have conducted experiments in both lab and field settings, the results of the experiments have been very similar (Anderson, Lindsay, Bushman, 1999). This is reassuring. For this study, researchers at the University of Pennsylvania recruited five Christian women between the ages of 38 and 52 years old who had been speaking in tongues for at least five years. In the Philadelphia community of Pennsylvania both men and women perform glossolalia but the number of women who practice glossolalia is substantially higher. The researchers also reported difficulty in finding experienced practitioners willing to perform glossolalia in a laboratory setting. Andrew B. Newberg et al. (2006) explains that while this complicates the statistical analysis, the number of subjects was sufficient to reveal statistically significant results (p. 70). First, they obtained informed consent which was approved by the Institutional Review Board and then conducted structured clinical interviews. After ruling out any psychological disorders, neurological or medical conditions, or medications that would affect cerebral function, subjects were given a pregnancy test before placing an intravenous cannula (IV) in one arm. In order for the participants to move freely during singing and glossolalia, they made sure to use a long IV line. In addition, researchers observed all subjects to ensure that both singing and glossolalia conditions were as similar as possible in terms of patient vocalization and motion. Subjects reported that the glossolalia was perceived to be non-voluntary. Throughout both conditions, the subjects were standing while moving both their arms and legs in a similar rhythmic manner. Consequently, no significant changes were observed in the motor cortex; however, the phonemic structure was different between the two condition s. After the first five minutes of singing, subjects were injected through the IV with 7 mCi of 99mTc-Bicisate, and then brought to the SPECT scanner for a 40-min scan after a total of 20 minutes singing altogether. Next, subjects returned to the same room to perform glossolalia for 20 minutes and then scanned for 30 minutes using the same imaging parameters. After the first five minutes performing glossolalia, the subjects had also been unobtrusively injected with 25 mCi of 99mTc-ECD fifteen minutes before the scan. The results were hypothesis driven so comparisons were only tested for the major structures of the frontal, temporal, and parietal lobes, as well as the amygdala, hippocampus, striatum, and thalamus (also referred to as regions of interest [ROIs] throughout the study). Results indicated that the data between the glossolalia and singing state revealed several significant rCBF differences (cerebral blood flow ratios). Researchers also reported significant decreases in the prefrontal cortices, left caudate and left temporal pole while there were increases in the left superior parietal lobe (SPL) and right amygdala (A.B. Newberg et al., 2006). A percentage change in CBF ratios had been calculated for each region and a laterality index (LI) representing the percentage difference between the right and left side was also calculated revealing a significant negative correlation (R=-0.90, P=0.03) between the singing and glossolalia thalamic LI. According to A.B. Newberg et al. (2006) this indi cated that the more the thalamic activity was asymmetric to begin with, the more the asymmetry reversed during glossolalia (p. 69). The author’s interpretation of the results suggests that this preliminary study has begun to elucidate the neurophysiological correlates of glossolalia. Changes in several brain structures suggest that there is complex brain activity during this unusual practice (p. 70, A.B. Newberg et al., 2006). According to the author, the present study is the first that they are aware of that has evaluated changes in cerebral activity during the practice of glossolalia. In regards to their hypotheses, they observed decreased activity in the prefrontal cortices during the glossolalia state (p. 70). This finding was clearly distinct from their previous study of meditation using the same imaging technique (Newberg et al., 2001). Neuroimaging studies have also shown increased frontal lobe activity during attention-focusing tasks (Frith et al., 1991; Pardo et al., 1991). The author found it interesting that the frontal lobes showed decreased perfusion during glossolalia which was consistent wit h the subject’s description of a lack of intentional control over the performance of glossolalia (A.B. Newberg et al., 2006). Furthermore, the left hemispheric structures appeared to have significant decreases that were not observed in the right hemisphere and the lack of a clear lateralization in the frontal lobes suggests that the expressive language parts of the brain may not be as directly affected by glossolalia as might be expected (p. 70, Newberg et al., 2006). The author had previously argued, and found, decreased activity in the SPL during meditation in which there is a described loss of the sense of self, however, glossolalia was not associated with a loss of the sense of self and there were no significant decreases in the SPL (p. 70). The author’s interpretation of the significant decrease in the left caudate is of uncertain significance but suggested that it may relate to the altered emotional activity during glossolalia (A.B. Newberg et al., 2006). Several implications for further research were provided based on potential confounding problems within the study. Although the author claimed that the number of subjects was sufficient to reveal statistically significant results, I think caution should be used when generalizing results with a sample size less than 30 (in this case, 5). In addition, all female subjects were recruited from the same local community. A researcher more interested in the external validity of the research might conduct nonexperimental research with a more diverse population and this study had a highly restricted sample (p. 86, P.C. Cozby and S.C. Bates, 2012). There are many advantages of the experimental method for studying relationships between variables but there are also disadvantages to experiments and many good reasons for using methods other than experiments; so, although laboratory experiments often have strong internal validity, they may often have limited external validity (Cozby and Bates, 2012). In addition, glossolalia was performed in a laboratory setting rather than a natural environment such as a home o r church where a field experiment might yield different results. Being in a more spiritually inductive environment may potentially deepen their ability to further immense themselves into an even deeper glossolalia state. Perhaps a more natural environment and longer session would alter the brain activity that was originally recorded in this study. It would also be interesting to study whether younger or older subjects would be capable of performing glossolalia with the same results found in this study of middle to upper aged women between 38 and 52 years old. The inclusion of male subjects who practice glossolalia as well as a more culturally diverse sample would also increase the external validity of the research. Previously, I briefly mentioned how laboratory experiments often have strong internal validity. What I was pleased to read in the study was how all subjects were observed to ensure that the two conditions (both singling and glossolalia) were as similar as possible (p. 68, A.B. Newberg et al., 2006). Subjects began by singing in the room, while standing, with her eyes closed, matching her condition during glossolalia. The same music was also used for both conditions. I think these were important things to take into consideration. To rule out any other variables, subjects were also tested for mental disorders, substance abuse, neurological and medical conditions, or if they take medications that would affect cerebral function prior to the study. Further evaluation of the quality of this study revealed that this study was in fact reported in a peer-reviewed journal (Psychiatry Research: Neuroimaging, 2006, Vol. 148(1), pp.67-71 [Peer Reviewed Journal]). The practice of glossolalia is di scussed in both the Old and New Testaments of the bible which has outlived every critic since the beginning of time yet it’s still common for religious studies to receive a lot of criticism. It was originally thought that glossolalia was related to some form of psychopathology; however, the limited number of reported studies have suggested that people who speak in tongues show no differences in personality traits from other population groups—no increases in depression, anxiety, mania, or psychosis (Hine, 1969; Richardson, 1973). In fact, a recent study of nearly a thousand clergy members revealed that 80% who practiced glossolalia had greater emotional stability and less neuroticism (Francis and Robbins, 2003). Perhaps the practice of glossolalia actually increased their emotional stability and decreased neuroticism. Clearly causation could not be inferred but if further research could address the limitations I discussed in the previous paragraph, there could be powerf ul implications. Therefore, based on my assessment of the strengths and weaknesses of this study I think it is very important. The results of this study revealed that the part of our brain that is used for speaking was not activated while speaking in tongues. This suggests that the ability to speak in tongues comes from something else deep within us, confirming what the bible teaches about this spiritual gift called glossolalia. The news story did a fairly good job conveying the substance of the empirical study. It reported a brief yet accurate description of the sample, procedure, and results of the study. As I’ve mentioned previously, Buddhist practices such as meditation has recently become a popular research interest but Christian practices such as glossolalia have not been given quite as much attention so it was interesting to see comparisons being made in both the study and news story. The author of the news story shined light on this subject by emphasizing how the new findings contrasted sharply with images taken of other spiritually inspired mental states like meditation, which is often a highly focused mental exercise, activating the frontal lobes (Carey, 2006). I would say that more details could have been incorporated into the news story but a link to the actual study was provided for those who were curious enough to dig a little deeper. The story basically just hit the important aspects of the study and major findings. Furthermore, there was a good match between the strengths of the study and the way that the story was reported. It was interesting how the author of the news story incorporated important insights from the leader of the study team that I did not recall reading in the study. For instance, â€Å"the amazing thing was how the images supported people’s interpretation of what was happening,† said Dr. Andrew B. Newberg, leader of the study team, which included Donna Morgan, Nancy Wintering and Mark Waldman. â€Å"The way they describe it, and what they believe, is that God is talking through them,† he said. Dr. Newberg is also a co-author of â€Å"Why We Believe What We Believe.† And Ms. Morgan, a co-author of the study, was also a research subject (Carey, 2006). This was information I did not gather from the study alone so I assume that interviews must have been conducted and incorporated into the news story which adds a lot of in sight useful in evaluating the research in its entirety. Some of the findings that might have been underemphasized included results from some of the four hypotheses that may not be considered significant enough to emphasize in the media report. For example, one finding underemphasized in the news story was that the researchers did not observe the hypothesized increase in thalamic activity and it was not clear what such a finding may represent from a physiological perspective (p. 70, A.B. Newberg et al., 2006). Again, I think the reporter made this particular choice because it didn’t necessarily support or impact the main point. References Carey, B. (2006, November 7). A neuroscientific look at speaking in tongues. The New York Times. Retrieved from http://www.nytimes.com/2006/11/07/health/07brain.html?_r=0 Cozby, P.C., Bates, S.C. (2012). Methods in behavioral research (11th ed.). New York, NY: McGraw-Hill. Newberg, A.B., Wintering, N.A., Morgan, D., Waldman, M.R. (2006). The measurement of regional cerebral blood flow during glossolalia: a preliminary SPECT study. Psychiatry Research. Neuroimaging 148 (1), 67-71.

Man Is Our True Enemy :: essays research papers

Once someone said Man is our true enemy. And that person was right. In the modern time (now) the word enemy means: A hostile power or force such as a nation. As an example let’s take the Middle East nations suck as Iraq. We can also be our own enemy. How? By testing nuclear devises or dispose of hazardous materials in the environment suck as potation. Why are we been our own enemy? By trying to develop our selves we extract negative effects out of our positive efforts. Example we make fire to warm our selves and to kook our food to be able to survive but in the same time we are killing our planet by the CO2 which is drown out from the fire and which enhances the green house effect which is already above normal. Another reason is that it is in man’s nature to desires more in economical and territorial means. For example a president of a certain country would give order to create weapons off mass distraction, which explode at an imaginary force. And he would use them to slather millions of innocent individuals just to achieve his goal. This was proven to us in the Hiroshima and Nagasaki nuclear bombing. We are also our enemy in our awry day lives. Example Transportation such as unsafe vehicles likes cars, motorcycles and airplanes. In fact 40% of all unnatural deaths occur in vehicle accidents. We also harm our self in nourishment by eating unhealthy products, which have artificial color and flavor, which result in heart diseases and strokes. Another reason we are our own enemy is because we made our selves weak and entirely dependent on technology. For example when the Y2K will come we will to totally unprepared. The water filtration, electricity, gazes, hitting, and bank machines would not work. That means on January 1 2000 we will be left in dark, cold, thirsty and hungry. We would not be able to receive money because computer does the paychecks, and we could not take money from our account because the bank machine would not work.

Facquier Gas Company Essay

The case study link is provided below for the Case Study 2 Facquier Gas Company. Read and study the case and complete the questions at the end of the study. Use the case study outline below to assist you with your analysis. Questions should be answered using case study format. Ensure that you adequately explain the problem, describe alternative solutions and justify your recommendation. This exercise should be able to be completed in approximately 3-6 doubled space pages. Attached completed Case Study #2 as a MS Word document in the assignment area of the classroom – Mr. Murphy, the manager of supply management is responsible for procurement for Fauquier Gas Company. Mr. Murphy specializes in the procurement of materials used in gas distribution such as pipe, meters, fittings, furniture systems and forms, stores management, and materials forecasting and control. A situation has occurred when it has come to the attention of Mr. Murphy that he has understood that Clive Byers, the construction project manager is working on adding an extra 3  ½ miles of new gas lines for the Fauquier Gas Company. Mr Murphy has a few concerns about the procedures and the pipe specification. Mr. Murphy is asking a â€Å"purchase request† from Byers to be sent in good time as the lead time can slow the project down, thus wasting money and time. This requires getting quotations, contacting suppliers and delivery times and it looks like Byers schedule does not give Mr. Murphy enough time to ensure the procedures are carried out correctly. The process also involved ensuring that the purchase request is approved by two units, the design engineer Pat Wilson for approval and the pipe specification Sam Law. Mr.  Murphy contacted Pat Wilson regarding the pipe specification of the standard wall thickness of â€Å"3/4 inches and 37 feet long had changed to 3/8 inches and 40 feet plus or minus 5 feet.† (Hood, J.) Murphy was concerned when Wilson stated that the project would be â€Å"governed by less stringent specifications if the wall thickness was 3/4 inches† and also that Wilson did not get the specifications for the wrappers to be applied to the pipe and stated that â€Å"Fauquier had used two types of wrappers—coal tar and pry-tech.† (Hood.) Murphy is the manager of supply management is responsible for procurement for Fauquier Gas Company and has every right to question Clive Byers actions. Mr. Murphy has identified that there is a problem with the pipe specifications, as â€Å"specifications and standardization play important roles in the search for the right quality and the right value.† (Burt.2009) Murphy is concerned that this deviation in in size and length of the gas pipe could potentially cause conflicts in â€Å"engineering, manufacturing, marketing, and supply management.† (Burt.2009) I can identify that there is a problem with communication, lack or procedures and Byers seems to working on his own instead of being part of a cross functional team. The process of building pipe lines requires several teams to approve piping specifications and design, Byers seems to be misunderstanding of the company’s procedures and standards and is not meeting the standard piping specifications and is lowering the standards of Fauquier by taking less stringent specifications for the new piping. The wall thickness is an issue and the length of pipe might cause problems in construction and Murphy’s role as a supply manager is important that all materials meet the â€Å"specifications and standards set by the company, they must be â€Å"functional, precise and complete.† (Burt.2009) If the pipe is substandard and an accident occurs, life and property could be at risk, this would definitely cause a dispute between â€Å"the purchaser and the supplier.† Mr Murphy would have have gone through the correct procurement procedures to seek a supplier and settle a contract. Mr Murphy’s job is to make sure the buying policies and practise I would recommend that Murphy contact Mr. Charlie Buck, the design superintendent of Fauquier in a timely manner to make sure that the change of specifications is acceptable and or to make the management aware that the piping standard is being reduced. Mr Buck needs to improve the communication and team work, this  could be sorted by more meetings regarding procedures or training. There is a time management issue by Clive Byers, as he clearly doesn’t understand that purchase request may have lengthy lead time which could potentially slow down the business processes. This needs to be addressed by upper management to make sure that Byers submits the purchase request in a timely manner, as he is now potential adding weeks to the project. I would recommend that Mr. Buck rejects the change of change of specifications, a management meeting would then be required to ensure that all upper / middle management understand that specifications and requesting a purchase order in a timely manner is essential to the success of Fauquier. Failing to comply with the piping specifications could cost the company millions of dollars in down time and could cause a potential danger and health hazard with a gas leak. The reputation of the company is at risk and Mr Murphy concerns are eligible to raise as a deviation from standard business practise.

Same Sex Marriage Should Have A Huge Impact On A Global Level

Sergio Yruegas Leann L. Baldwin PAD 201 A Thursday, November 19, 2015 Same Sex Marriage One of the most controversial topics in the world to date is that of same sex marriage. It is no surprise to anyone that eventually society would evolve to accept this social change phenomenon. The United States can be seen as being amongst the top two most powerful countries in the world, but if we were to look solely at a countries sphere of influence, there is no doubt USA would come out on top every time. Due to this we can assume that a major decision such as that of legalizing same-sex marriage will have a huge impact on a global level. Besides looking at this topic from an international perspective, this essay will mainly focus on the internal social turmoil that legalization of same sex marriage has had on the political, religious and social aspects due to the previous conservative atmosphere which clouded American judgment in the past. Same-sex marriage has now been legitimized in the USA, but there are still groups that are against it and continue to deny the rights of the gay community (Baunach, 2011). Homosexuality is becoming more and more common in the modern day. Individuals are more open about their sexual orientation and are not afraid to be publicly gay or lesbian. The prevalence of homosexuality in American males can be said to be 6.2% of the population while the prevalence for American females is 3.6% of the population (Smart, 2007). However, these numbers refer toShow MoreRelatedGender Equality1474 Words   |  6 PagesGender Equality Women have faced major discrimination when it comes to work and sometimes in education. Women decades ago had a wide range of opportunities denied to them due to their sex. Women have always been looked upon as the weaker sex and men as stronger and as the rulers. Women years ago were not seen as individuals, they were basically their husband’s slaves. Women were the ones to stay home, make dinner for their cranky and tired husband, look after their children, clean the house andRead MoreTaboo of Homosexuality and Same Sex Marriage4375 Words   |  18 PagesHomosexuality and same sex marriage is one of the serious issue in our society. This essay summarize whether homosexuality and same sex marriage is still considered as a taboo or not. Taboo is any human behaviour that is normal for him/her but may not be for other. Hence, we could recognise taboo only at the time when we encounter other opposing our behaviour. Every society differs in its point of view regarding any sort o f Taboo-defying behaviour. Hence homosexuality and same sex marriage is hotly debatedRead MoreThe Link Between Aids And Poverty2237 Words   |  9 Pagescause and the outcome of the high incidents of AIDS. Commercial sex, a common and widely practiced outcome of poverty has played a role in spreading the epidemic. AIDS has also been spread throughout the region as a result of the societal values practiced such as polygamy, teenage marriage, and church rulings, all contributing to making AIDS the number one killer in Sub Saharan Africa. Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is believed to have originated in western Africa during the 19th to 20th centuryRead MoreThe Process of Adolescent Development Essay1566 Words   |  7 Pagesbreed and sex. The time interval that elapses begins at 11 to 12 years and extends to 18 to 20. However we cannot associate to a 13 with one 18 years. Let us talk about early adolescence between 11 to 14 years, which coincides with puberty, and after a second period of youth, or late adolescence between 15-20 years. Its extension to adulthood depends on social, cultural, environmental as well as personal adaptation. Thesis Statement The purpose of this paper is to explore the impact of environmentalRead MoreHow Globalization Affects Our Small Companies Or Large Businesses?2628 Words   |  11 Pagescompanies or large businesses. Every single one of us has have grown up differently in some sort of way, and while we all have different backgrounds, most of us that grow up in the same general region have the same type of knowledge of the world around us as a whole. It is important to remember that while we have some type of knowledge of this, it isn’t the same as really understanding a different culture and how Globalization plays such a huge role. Globalization In todays world managersRead MoreRemedy to Immoralities That Are Part of Society Today2031 Words   |  9 PagesIt is undeniable that the computer and Internet play and important role in our daily lives. Today, many issues have been raised regarding the decline in morality and the pornification of culture. These issues have become a serious problem around the world and it leaves a big impact on many people regardless of their age, culture and religion. Muslims and non-Muslims are concerned on what the future brings if actions are not taken to decrease these bad influences that are getting more influentialRead MoreEarly Marriage9846 Words   |  40 PagesEarly Marriage in South Asia A DISCUSSION PAPER Contents INTRODUCTION 2 THE PREVALENCE OF EARLY MARRIAGE 3 CAUSES OF EARLY MARRIAGE 5 CONSEQUENCES OF EARLY MARRIAGE 8 RESPONSES TO EARLY MARRIAGE OF CHILDREN 16 Introduction Early marriage affects millions of children through the world. It is widely practiced in the countries of South Asia where every year millions of girls-preteens and teens- become the wives of older men. Young girls are marriedRead MoreSociocultural Vulnerabilities On The Transmission Of The Hiv / Aids3463 Words   |  14 Pages Sociocultural Vulnerabilities on the Transmission of the HIV/AIDS in South Africa The HIV/AIDS epidemic in South Africa has been largely driven by the distinctive interaction of sex, gender, and power relations. Cultural norms regarding gender dynamics are a critical area of inquiry when it comes to understanding the course of HIV/AIDS in rural South Africa. Many of the key questions on the intersection of biological and cultural factors in the transmissibility of HIV can only be answered throughRead MoreImpact Of Overpopulation On The Society Essay2112 Words   |  9 PagesImpacts of Overpopulation The simple fact that humans do not live in isolation makes it necessary for them to institute structures of living such as families, tribes, and contemporary nations and other groupings of societies. Human live in groups as they attempt to share the available space, resources, and other interests. Therefore, coexistence is an inevitable element of nature, there has to be a peaceful relationship, for instance, between humans and animals to guarantee the survival of bothRead MoreWomen s Job Market And Qualifying For Senior Positions Essay2299 Words   |  10 Pagesmany western countries and these countries tried to follow the same suit(Lang,2010). In political areas, the percent of national parliament seats held by women of India is only 11.97% and is 7.33% lower than female representation in governments around the world. However, Norwegian women’s participation in government takes up 39.64%. Many factors may have an impact on this case. This essay, therefore chooses the two c ountries which have huge differences and combines different factors of the countries