BLO #8 Examine one interaction between cognition and physiology in terms of behavior. Evaluate two relevant studies.

 Mental processes including perception, thinking, memory, meditation, language, attention. COGNITION IS

 Change in bodily structure or activity like brain activity and structure, heart rate. PHYSIOLOGY IS

 AIM: To investigate whether meditation can change brain activity. BRAIN WAVES & COMPASSION MEDITATION STUDY (DAVIDSON ET AL., 2004)

 Researchers studied 8 monks who had practiced meditation for many years and compared them to 10 people who were given one week of meditation training.  Participants were instructed to meditate on unconditional compassion (without focusing on any individual person in their thoughts).  Both groups were monitored by EEG (records electrical activity as brain waves). Meditation produces electrical activity when neurons fire. METHODS

 The EEG of the monks’ brains showed more activity of gamma waves, also better organization and coordination of gamma waves. In other words, there was a positive correlation between hours of practice and level of gamma waves. FINDINGS

 Due to the small number of participants, the change in brain waves could be due to individual differences rather than the amount of training. CRITICISM

 AIM: to investigate whether meditation could lead to change in brain structure. ANOTHER MEDITATION STUDY (VESTERGAARD-POULSEN ET AL., 2009)

 MRI scans were compared between meditators and non- meditators. METHODS

 They found structural changes in the lower brain stem of participants engaged in long- term practice of meditation compared with age-matched non-meditators.  Specifically, the connection of neurons in this area was more complex in meditators.  Meditation also had physiological benefits like stress reduction because cortisol levels are reduced and heart rate and breathing slow down. FINDINGS