In 2002, neuroscientist Richard Davidson and associate Antoine Lutz placed several electrodes on the heads of Buddhist monks to examine the brainwave activity during meditation. The Buddhist monks were very experienced in meditation, making them ideal study subjects.
They discovered that the meditating monks exhibited powerful gamma activity in the prefrontal cortex, particularly when these monks meditated on compassion and "loving kindness." Gamma brainwaves oscillate between 38 to 70 Hz.. Research indicates that optimal brain function occurs when these waves oscillate at 40Hz, a frequency that is found almost universally in Tibetan monks.
Recent studies also suggest that gamma waves are not only associated with focused thought, they seem to be indispensable for the development of language skills and peak brain performance.
Language Development and Gamma Brainwaves
April Benasich, professor of Neuroscience at Rutgers University in Newark sees a definite link between gamma activity and emerging language development in children within the first 36 months of life. During the period from 16 to 36 months, children experience an intense learning period when their apprehension of words and situations literally explodes.
Using EEG analysis, Benasich and her research team discovered that children with higher language and cognitive scores, better attention and self-management functions exhibited higher gamma activity in the brain. In particular, children who experienced language problems exhibited a lower range of gamma oscillation.
Her research suggests that brain mechanisms for gamma activity and language acquisition develop at the same time; this means that there is a window of opportunity when clinical intervention can increase gamma wave brain activity in the frontal cortex which can help the brain make neural connections essential for effective language development.
Optimal Brain Function
Like language development, optimal brain function is amenable to the influence of gamma activity. Using a technique called optogenetics, Stanford neuroscientist Karl Deisseroth and graduate student Feng Zhang identified the involvement of the parvalbumin neurons with the generation of gamma brainwaves.
By inhibiting these neurons, the team discovered that they could decrease gamma oscillations; by encouraging these neurons, they increased gamma activity.
These experiments showed that parvalbumin neurons are responsible for synchronizing brainwaves at the frequency of 40 HZ, the frequency the brain performs at its optimal level.
What effects are associated with brainwaves that oscillate at a 40HZ gamma frequency?
- This brainwave frequency is associated with feelings of optimism and happiness. Researcher Richard Davidson found that the monks he tested showed intense activity in the left prefrontal cortex, the area associated with positive thoughts and optimism. A natural antidepressant, gamma brainwaves increase one's level of compassion and extends a sense of loving kindness to the world.
- Gamma brainwaves encourage the integration of brain information. Because they can be found in almost every part of the brain, these brain waves facilitate enhanced and synchronized communication among different segments of the brain.
Davidson's research showed that intense gamma waves in the monks were associated with the "knitting together" of disparate brain circuits. This discovery was corroborated by MIT studies which demonstrated that when neurons in the prefrontal cortex fired in unison, they generated gamma oscillations between distant brain regions.
This discovery has significant implications for various mental disorders. Studies have shown that low gamma oscillations between brain regions are characteristic of disorders like schizophrenia, ADHD and autism.
There is no doubt that controlling gamma rhythm within the brain can very well mean that language, emotional and mental disorders can one day be managed with spiritual practices like meditation and neurological resources that synchronize brain activity and wave entrainment. Man is moving quickly towards optimal brain performance.
Source:
Peter B. Reiner. "Meditation on Demand.`` Scientific American Mind. December Issue 2009. 64-7.
Mary Desaulniers - I am a retired teacher and grandmother looking forward to the next 30 or more years with great relish and enthusiasm. My passions are ...
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