NeuroQuantology | June 2007 | Vol 5 | Issue 2 | Page 233-240Cardoso R et al. Prefrontal cortex in meditationISSN 1303 5150 www.neuroquantology.com233
Perspectives
Prefrontal Cortex in Meditation
When the Concrete Leads to the AbstractA schematically hypothesis, concerning the participation of the logic for "logic relaxation"
Roberto Cardoso
∗
, Eduardo de Souza
∗
,Luiz Camano
∗
, José R. Leite**
1
Abstract
Meditation involves, among others aspects, a state known as "logic relaxation".Some people may, therefore, consider a paradox the increase of the activationof the prefrontal lobe during meditation described in some studies. After all,this region is classically associated to logic, and should not be activated duringthe so-called "logic relaxation". In this schematical model, the authors point outthe probable explanation with respect to these findings, while they encouragefuture studies of brain mapping involving the subject. According to this model,the higher activity in prefrontal lobe would be caused by use of the so-called"self-focus skill", an exercise of directing the focus of the attention, that it isespecially important in the installation of meditating techniques.
Key Words
: meditation, prefrontal cortex, logic, cognition
NeuroQuantology 2007; 2: 233-240
1Corresponding author: Roberto CardosoAddress: Rua Pedro de Toledo, 541 / 72 04039-031 São Paulo – SP – Brazil* Department of Obstetrics of UNIFESP - Escola Paulista de Medicina – São Paulo - Brazil.** Behavioral Medicine Unit - Department of Psychobiology of UNIFESP - Escola Paulista de Medicina – São Paulo - Brazil.e-mail: rdcardoso@hotmail.com
NeuroQuantology | June 2007 | Vol 5 | Issue 2 | Page 233-240Cardoso R et al. Prefrontal cortex in meditation
ISSN 1303 5150www.neuroquantology.com
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Initially, the term meditation reminds usof an ancient spiritual practice, but it hasgradually been considered by researchersin the Neuroscience area as a usefulcomplementary procedure in Medicine.Our group has published anoperational definition for meditationinvolving, basically, five aspects (Cardoso,2004). In accordance with this definition,a procedure is considered as meditation if it presents the following parameters:A necessarily self-induced state (1),applied through (2) a specific technique(clearly defined), using (3) a self focus skill(coined “anchor”), intending (4) the “logicrelaxation”, and presenting (5) musclerelaxation somewhere during the process.The self focus skill, which is presentin all the techniques that we recognize asmeditation, intends to keep all theattention unidirectionally focused. It canbe a concentration (positive anchor) or aturning off (negative anchor) skill. Positiveanchors may focus on one point of thebody, a sound, and respiration, amongothers. Negative anchors are used in theperceptive-like techniques, being called“anchor of anchor absence”. The mostpublished technique, using a "negativeanchor", is generally known asMindfulness Meditation. However, themindfulness meditation can becatalogued in the same operationaldefinition mentioned above. In this kindof meditation a modified state of consciousness is achieved (associated topsychophysical relaxation), as well as itoccurs in the concentrative techniques.Moreover, the apparent "lack of anchor",that would exist in mindfulness is only aninitial impression. In fact, this technique,in our opinion, uses what we call of "anchor of anchor absence" (or “negativeanchor”), or either, in very simple words,the self-focus skill would consist of leaving the attention free to move itself indirection to any circumstantial event. Also,it was published an interestingoperational definition of mindfulness
meditation (Bishop, 2004). This definition,if carefully read, does not contradict whatit is presented here, therefore, theauthors consider two basic components:self-regulation of attention andorientation to experience. If we couldperceive the subjective meaning of thetext, we would see that is about a verysubtle anchor, therefore when thepractitioner loses the characteristicpsychophysical state, he must to "returnto the anchor" (orientation toexperience).The term “logic relaxation”, at firstseems paradoxal. However, this isprobably the most subtle aspect of meditation. This term would involve threeaspects: (a) not “to intend” to analyzing(not trying to explain) the possiblepsychophysical effects; (b) not “to intend”to judging (good, bad, right, wrong) thepossible psychophysical effects, and; (c)not “to intend” to creating any type of expectation regarding the process.Through this stratagem, the individual
NeuroQuantology | June 2007 | Vol 5 | Issue 2 | Page 233-240Cardoso R et al. Prefrontal cortex in meditation
ISSN 1303 5150www.neuroquantology.com
235
obtains not to become involved in thestream of thoughts that appears duringthe meditative practice.We can say that, basically, ameditation technique is a simple duetthat involves the “anchor” (self-focus skill)and the “logic relaxation”. The individualwill gradually exercise his capacity of being “focused in the anchor”. At the verymoment he perceives himself involved inthe stream of thoughts, he willimmediately return to be “focused in theanchor”. But if he, despite his "intentionto" maintain the so-called “logicrelaxation”, he perceives himself involvedin the stream of thoughts he will – againand again – “return to the anchor” (figure1).
Figure 1.
The base of a meditative exercise. Duringmeditation, all the attention should be kept in self focus skill, so-called anchor. This artifice allowsso-called “logic relaxation”. When the apprenticeperceives himself involved in thoughts, he shouldreturn all his attention to the anchor.
Recently, the NIH´s NCCAM (NationalInstitutes of Health – National Center forComplementary and Alternative Medicine)published a text in which meditation ispresented as a procedure to be utilized inHealth interventions (NCCAM, 2006). Inthis paper, the “anchor” is cited as “focusof attention”, and the so-called “logicrelaxation” is cited (in certain way) as “anopen attitude”. According to this paper,an “open attitude” involves
“…lettingdistractions come and go naturally without stopping to think about them.When distracting or wandering thoughtsoccur, they are not suppressed; instead,the meditator gently brings attentionback to the focus. In some types of meditation, the meditator learns toobserve the rising and falling of thoughtsand emotions as they spontaneously occur…”
. Amongst the references, citingthe papers that had given base to this text,our operational definition is pointed(Cardoso et al., 2004).Naturally, the term "logic relaxation"raised some questions by some membersof the scientific community. In fact, it ishard to figure out a technical procedure(any one) put into practice without theaid of the logic. Some neuroscientistsargued that
“...it is not clear that duringmeditation there is no purpose or expectation (of course we can have thebelief, although unfounded, that we haveno purpose or expectation) because, at the very minimum, we have theexpectation of remaining in themeditative state for a few minutes and the expectation that the state will end at some time. We cannot forget that we aremeditating...”
The strongest argument of commentators, however, was the
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