Neurological Benefits of Mindfulness

Wu, Victoria

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https://hdl.handle.net/2142/113591 Copy

Description

Title

Neurological Benefits of Mindfulness

Author(s)

Wu, Victoria

Issue Date

2019

Keyword(s)

• Mindfulness
• Stress
• Psychological Disorders
• Mind
• Body

Abstract

René Descartes was a 17th-century philosopher who popularized the idea of Cartesian dualism, an abstract separation between the body and the mind, heavily influencing modern thought. People tend to think of their mind as separate from their brain and body, hence the term “Mind over matter”. Descartes believed that the connection between the mind and brain occurred at the pineal gland, which he called the “seat of the soul”. Because we now know that the pineal gland is responsible for secretion of melatonin, a chemical that contributes to the regulation of our circadian rhythm, we can now understand that this differs from the definition that it was the area where all our thoughts are formed. Additionally, from a biological standpoint, the “mind” as thought and abstract ideas originate from electrical and chemical signals in the brain (Lockhorst, 2013).There is no separation between mind and body, for the brain works independently and outside of the body. The brain is simply another organ that functions as a piece of a machine, though the mechanisms are anything but simple. As a small error in syntax could lead to a myriad of unforeseen malfunctions in a computer program, minor changes in brain chemistry could lead to serious defects in the rest of the body. Studies have shown that chronic stress strongly correlates to psychological disorders, decreased function in learning and attention, and weakening of the immune system (Schneiderman, Ironson, & Siegel, 2008). However, for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction - the opposing process is mindfulness meditation, a technique that correlates with improvement in health. Effects have been most notable in patients with anxiety and depression, enhancing attention and reducing the risk of future cardiac ailments.

Publisher

University of Illinois Undergraduate Neuroscience Society

Type of Resource

text

Language

en

Permalink

http://hdl.handle.net/2142/113591

Copyright and License Information

Copyright 2019 Victoria Wu

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