User:Nikkigb/Effects of meditation

Overall I really enjoyed reading this article however it could use some changes.
 * The title "Research on unspecified or multiple types of meditation" is a little unclear.
 * The article includes many sources that are more that 5 years old. Medical sources need to be no more than 5 years old.
 * The pain subsection could use more information.
 * The effects of mindfulness and meditation has sections with more information than others. It could use more information in the insomnia and sleep, and future directions section.

Effects of Meditation
The psychological and physiological effects of meditation have been studied. In recent years, studies of meditation have increasingly involved the use of modern instruments, such as fMRI and EEG, which are able to observe brain physiology and neural activity in living subjects, either during the act of meditation itself or before and after meditation. Correlations can thus be established between meditative practices and brain structure or function.

Methodological obstacles
Numerous studies have demonstrated the beneficial effects of a variety of meditation practices. It has been unclear to what extent these practices share neural correlates. Interestingly, a recent study compared electroencephalogram activity during a focused-attention and open monitoring meditation practice from practitioners of two Buddhist traditions. The researchers found that the differences between the two meditation traditions were more pronounced than the differences between the two types of meditation. These data are consistent with our findings that theoretical orientation of how a practice is taught strongly influences neural activity during these practices. However, the study used long-term practitioners from different cultures, which may have confounded the results.

Executive control attention
A neuroimaging study supports behavioural research findings that higher levels of mindfulness are associated with greater proficiency to inhibit distracting information. As greater activation of the rostral anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) was shown for mindfulness meditators than matched controls.

Emotional regulation and mindfulness
Reductions in rumination also have been found following mindfulness meditation practice, contributing to the development of positive thinking and emotional well-being.

Brain activity
In addition, both meditation and yoga have been found to have impacts on the brain, specifically the caudate. Strengthening of the caudate is been shown in meditators as well as yogis. The increased connectedness of the caudate has potential to be responsible for the improved well-being that is associated with yoga and meditation.

Attention/Mind Wandering
Meditation has been found to decrease mind wandering and allows the brain to fully focus on challenging tasks for longer periods of time without getting distracted.

Perception
Brown points to this as a possible explanation of the phenomenon: "[the higher rate of detection of single light flashes] involves quieting some of the higher mental processes which normally obstruct the perception of subtle events." In other words, the practice may temporarily or permanently alter some of the top-down processing involved in filtering subtle events usually deemed noise by the perceptual filters.

Memory
Meditation enhances memory capacity specifically in the working memory and increases executive functioning by helping participants better understand what is happening moment for moment.

Heartfulness Meditation
Heartfulness meditation is a heart centered meditation practice. The idea behind heartfulness meditation is to connect to ourselves and create an experience that brings us a sense of peace and calm. This process often includes sitting quietly and tuning into your heart. When your mind wanders you are to bring your focus back to tuning into your heart. Research on heartfulness meditation has shown to improve sleep quality, decreased burnout , and reduce stress

Difficulties in the scientific study of meditation
This should be moved to the end of the article rather than the beginning for organizational purposes.

Pain
One study attributes this to the alteration of the perception of pain as a result of meditation.