Guide: Dr Bindu M Kutty
Co-Guide: Dr Seema Mehrotra
Co-Guide: Dr Ravindra Panth
Neurophysiology @ NIMHANS |
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Ratna Jyothi (3rd yr PhD Scholar) presented her PhD work presentation titled "Vipassana Meditation and Well-Being: A neuro-psycho-physiological Study"
Guide: Dr Bindu M Kutty Co-Guide: Dr Seema Mehrotra Co-Guide: Dr Ravindra Panth Nirmala M successfully defended her PhD work entitled "Neurophysiological Correlates of Mindfulness Meditation - A Polysomnographic and Neurocognitive Study”.
Guide: Prof. Bindu M Kutty Examiner: Prof. V Mohan Kumar, Emeritus Scientist and Visiting Professor, Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute of Medical-Sciences & Technology, Trivandrum -695011, Kerala Dr Jyothi Kakumanu (PhD Scholar) presented the paper from Biological Psychology by Keune et al., 2013 entitled "Approaching dysphoric mood: State-effects of mindfulness meditation on frontal brain asymmetry"
ABSTRACT Meditation-based interventions reduce the relapse risk in recurrently depressed patients. Randomized trials utilizing neurophysiologic outcome measures, however, have yielded inconsistent results with regard to a prophylactic effect. Although frontal brain asymmetry, assessed through electroencephalographic (EEG) alpha activity (8–13 Hz), is indicative of approach vs. withdrawal-related response dispositions and represents a vulnerability marker of depression, clinical trials have provided mixed results as to whether meditation has beneficial effects on alpha asymmetry. Inconsistencies might have arisen since such trials relied on resting-state recordings, instead of active paradigms under challenge, as suggested by contemporary notions of alpha asymmetry. We examined two groups of remitted, recurrently depressed females. In a “mindfulness support group”, EEG was recorded during neutral rest, and rest following a negative mood induction. Subsequently, participants received initial meditation instructions. EEG was then obtained during an active period of guided mindfulness meditation and rest following the active period. In a “rumination challenge group”, EEGwas obtained during the same resting conditions, whereas in the active period, initial meditation instructions were followed by a rumination challenge. A significant shift in mid-frontal asymmetry, yielding a pattern indicative of approach motivation, was observed in the mindfulness support group, specifically during the meditation period. This indicates that mindfulness meditation may have a transient beneficial effect, which enables patients to take an approach-related motivational stance, particularly under circumstances of risk. - - - This paper is in an important area of research but there seemed to be a number of lacunae in the methodology as well as interpretation of results. Dr Jyothi discussed the findings and the various limitations of the study during her presentation. Dr Jyothi (PhD Scholar) presented her seminar on "Intersection of Buddhist Meditation and Neurosciences".
She presented an overview of meditation and a variety of meditative practices and highlighted that the term meditation is very loosely used to cover very different practices (ranging from focus on breathing to exercises to dhikr chanting of Sufis) that have correspondingly different effects on the body and mind. Jyothi then introduced the basic concepts of Buddhism and considered the connections between Sila (moral excellence), Samadhi or Bhavana (meditation) and Prajna (wisdom) as connected to mental evolution. She discussed about Buddhist meditative practices of Samatha, Vipasyana and Maithri that are being studied in our department. The principle underlying Buddhist contemplative practices is the notion that 'mind is malleable'. Emotions and mental qualities can be modified and trained just like any other skill. In this respect the Buddhist principles resonate with current cognitive models of Neurosciences and hence with the theme of neuroplasticity. She gave an overview of some of the scientific studies on meditation (there are more than 2500 entries on pubmed and almost 300 studies published in 2012). Generally these studies can be classified based on their effect on neuroplasticity, autonomic function and immune function. She concluded her seminar with a discussion on what meditation is not (it is not just relaxation or an escapism etc). Nirmala (3rd year PhD Scholar) presented a seminar on the neurobiological aspects of meditation and consciousness. She touched upon some of the different approaches that are being taken to study this field.
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