People who meditated using “Brain Wave Vibration” – Korean-style mind-body training – exhibit less stress and higher plasma Dopamine levels in stressful situations compared to a control group, according to the Journal “Neuroscience Letters”
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
New York, NY – June 22nd, 2010
Sixty-seven participants in a meditation group regularly practicing the mind–body training called “Brain Wave Vibration” have responded with more positivity under stressful circumstances. Their stress hormone levels showed better stress management skills and a faster capacity to become positive under the same stressful situations.
In the June issue of Neuroscience Letters, an international science journal, research teams from South Korea reported that the Brain Wave Vibration meditation method seems to train the sympathetic nervous system to regulate and somatize stress.
This study is a result of two-year collaboration between prominent research institutes in South Korea, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul National University College of Medicine and Korea Institute of Brain Science, funded by the cognitive neuroscience program of the Korean Ministry of Science and Technology.
This study was designed to assess the association between stress, positive affect and catecholamine levels in meditation and control groups. The meditation group consisted of 67 subjects who regularly engaged in “Brain Wave Vibration” mind-body training and the control group consisted of 57 healthy subjects.
The control group consisted of 57 healthy subjects, ages 19 to 37 years. The meditation group consisted of 67 subjects, aged 18 to 36 years, who practiced meditation regularly. Subjects in the meditation group had been practicing meditation for a mean of 43 months.
Plasmacatecholamine (norepinephrine (NE), epinephrine (E), and dopamine (DA)) levels were measured, and a modified form of the Stress Response Inventory (SRI-MF) and the Positive Affect and Negative Affect Scale (PANAS) were administered.
Blood samples were obtained to analyze catecholamine correlation by measuring the level of norepinephrine (NE), epinephrine (E), and dopamine (DA). The norepinephrine (NE), epinephrine (E), and dopamine (DA) are major hormones which have an effect on central nervous system. Measurements of NE/E and DA/E ratios are used in stress response research.
The results from this study show that the meditation group has lower stress, higher positive affect and higher plasma DA levels than control group. Specifically, the control group demonstrated that the positive affect decreased as the stress level was increased, whereas this correlation between stress and positive affect did not emerge in the meditation group. This means that the meditation group that practiced Brain Wave Vibration regularly has better stress management skills and a faster capacity to become positive under the same stress levels.
“Now it is widely accepted that meditation has positive effects on regulating stress. This study supports similar results, but also gives us a clue that this can be done by the regulation of the sympathetic nervous system, especially by the elevation of DA levels in this vibrative meditation group,” says primary investigator, Dr. Do-Hyung Kang from the Clinical Cognitive Neuroscience Center, Seoul National University Medical Center.
Brain Wave Vibration, developed by Mr. Ilchi Lee (President of the International Brain Education Association and the Korea Institute of Brain Science), is an easy-to-learn and practical mind-body training technique designed to relax both mind and body through natural rhythmic movements. This technique is designed to help quiet the thinking mind and release emotions, particularly negative emotions, through physical movements and focus on body sensations.
Starting with gentle intentional movement of the head from side-to-side, practitioners focus on physical sensations and vibrations, which may spread to all parts of the body and as it continues, it becomes natural and familiar.
For more details about the study, visit http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20546836 for the abstract and links to the full article.
Brain Wave Vibration
1. Sit
in a chair with your arms resting comfortably at your sides or in front of you
on a desk. When sitting in a chair, do not lean your back against the chair,
but keep your ba
ck straight.
2. Close your eyes and breathe comfortably, relaxing your body completely. Begin gently shaking your head from side to side; take three seconds to shake your head from one side to the other.
3. Follow a rhythm that feels natural for your body. The vibration becomes stronger and deeper. Your head may also go up and down or follow the shape of an infinity symbol as you go deeper into the motion.
4. Focus on your brain stem, located at the point where your head pivots left and right. The vibration is spreading from your neck to your whole body through your spinal cord.
5. Repeat this movement for five minutes. Slow down your movement and focus on your lower abdomen.
6. Inhale and exhale fully three times.
[Reference] Brain Wave Vibration, Ilchi Lee, BEST Life Media
International Brain Education Association (IBREA) USA, a not-for-profit organization based in New York, certifies Brain Management Consultants to teach Brain Wave Vibration and Brain Education – a holistic mind-body training program for better physical, emotional and mental health and well-being.
For more information, please contact: Dr. Passion Jun, Program director, IBREA USA, at 1- 212-319-0848 or jun@ibrea.org.