Meditate To Keep The Mind Active?

Reported June 04, 2010

Many people have very busy lifestyles and, as a result, may suffer from stress. Some people use alternative therapies like meditation to relax, and new research indicates that there may be other benefits to meditation besides just stress relief.

A team from the University of Wisconsin recently learned that meditation may help some individuals to focus their minds and attention. This may be helpful for treating individuals who suffer from attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), believes study leader Antoine Lutz.

"For example, attention training is worth examining for disorders like attention deficit hyperactivity disorder," Lutz explains.

Participants studied the Vipassana meditation practice for three months. Afterwards they were better able to complete a focusing exercise. Individuals heard tones in one ear or the other and were asked to indicate in which ear the sound was recognized. Other notes were played at the same time to try and distract the listeners.

The Vipassana meditation allowed the participants to ignore the distracting tones, indicating to researchers that it may help individuals learn to better focus their attention.ADNFCR-1961-ID-19487293-ADNFCR