2024/04/10

Altered Traits - Wikipedia Altered Traits: Science Reveals How Meditation Changes Your Mind, Brain, and Body

Altered Traits - Wikipedia


Altered Traits

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Altered Traits: Science Reveals How Meditation Changes Your Mind, Brain, and Body
First edition
AuthorDaniel Goleman and Richard Davidson
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
SubjectResearch on meditation
PublisherAvery Publishing
Publication date
September 5, 2017
Media typePrint (hardcover and paperback)
Pages336 (hardcover)
ISBN978-0399184383 (hardcover)

Altered Traits: Science Reveals How Meditation Changes Your Mind, Brain, and Body, published in Great Britain as 'The Science of Meditation: How to Change Your Brain, Mind and Body',[1] is a 2017 book by science journalist Daniel Goleman and neuroscientist Richard Davidson. The book discusses research on meditation. For the book, the authors conducted a literature review of over 6,000 scientific studies on meditation, and selected the 60 that they believed met the highest methodological standards.[2]

Summary[edit]

The authors write that meditation can be practised at two levels: the "deep path" of intensive meditative discipline aiming for total self-transformation, and the "wide path" of less intensive practice that can reach a larger number of people.[3]: 3–4  The book discusses both these levels, with findings on the highest-level meditators toward the end of the book.[3]: 13  After attending meditation retreats in Asia and while graduate students together at Harvard in the 1970s, Goleman and Davidson formulated the hypothesis that "the after is the before for the next during"—meaning the changes that endure after the end of a meditation session contribute to a more equanimous starting point for the next meditation session.[3]: 43–45  Such lasting psychological changes, or altered traits, are the focus of the book, as opposed to altered states of consciousness during meditation that end along with the meditation session.[3]: 45–46  The authors explain a range of methodological obstacles to studying meditation scientifically, which have resulted in many flawed studies; they write that based on an exhaustive literature review by Davidson's research group, they selected only studies they deemed to meet the highest standards to use in the book.[3]: 77–79 

The authors write that meditation leads to reduced stress reactivity, for instance that 30 hours of mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) practice leads to reduced amygdala activation and that long-term meditation practice increases connectivity between the prefrontal cortex (PFC) and the amygdala.[3]: 98–99  Regarding compassion, they distinguish between cognitive empathy, emotional empathy, and empathic concern, the last of which results in action to help reduce suffering, and state that as little as eight hours of loving-kindness meditation can increase empathic concern.[3]: 121  They write that meditation is at its core about retraining attention, and discuss studies showing that a small amount of meditation can improve attention in the short-term (as reflected, for instance, in a shorter attentional blink) while long-term practice brings lasting improvement.[3]: 144–145  Next, the authors turn to the sense of self, reflected in the self-referential and often unpleasant mind-wandering of the brain's default mode network, writing that in early meditation practice brain circuits encourage its activity and that in later practice activity in the network itself decreases.[3]: 163  While they state that meditation was not originally developed to treat illness, it does appear to have some beneficial effects in this regard, including reducing levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines—though they say these are not yet well understood.[3]: 189–190  Meditation was likewise not designed to treat psychopathology, but they note (among other findings) that a meta-analysis of 47 studies found meditation and medicine equally effective in treating depression, anxiety, and pain, without medication's negative side effects.[3]: 207 [4]

The next chapter recounts how Davidson's lab, with the help of French Buddhist monk Matthieu Ricard, recruited yogis including Mingyur Rinpoche in order to study the neurological effects of high-level meditation, and—in a much-cited study—found substantial surges in both electrical activity (using EEG) and activity in the brain's circuits for empathy (using fMRI) when Mingyur meditated on compassion.[3]: 228 [5] The authors write that experienced yogis have much higher levels of gamma waves, that they show little anticipation of pain and a very fast recovery from it, and that they can re-focus and hold their attention with little effort.[3]: 248  The authors then summarize the benefits of meditation they have so far described for three levels of practice: beginner, long-term, and "Olympic-level."[3]: 273–274  In the last chapter, the authors discuss possible new applications of meditation research, and remind their readers of the paucity of reliable data on meditation when they first became interested in the 1970s compared to the large and growing evidence base available now.[3]: 285–290 

Reception[edit]

A book review for Psych Central praises the book for avoiding the common sensationalism on the topic while exploring important research. It states: "In their new book, [...] recognized experts in their fields and lifelong meditators Daniel Goleman and Richard J. Davidson reveal the data that demonstrate just what meditation can and can’t do."[6]

UC Berkeley's Greater Good Magazine gave a strongly positive review of the book. It describes Altered Traits as "a highly readable book that helps readers separate the wheat from the chaff of mindfulness science" and which makes "a cogent argument that meditation, in various forms, has the power to transform us not only in the moment, but in more profound, lasting ways." The review also states that "Davidson and Goleman dutifully report the counter evidence as well."[7]

The book received a more critical review in the journal NeuroRegulation. The review gives a list of noteworthy research findings and methodological contributions for future research, and acknowledges the obstacles faced by scientists working in fields that are not fully accepted. However, in a concluding note it cautions: "From an academic point of view, even this book and the research shared adds up to a set of questionable empirical evidence that at times clearly lacks impartiality."[8]

A review in New Scientist compares the book with Thomas Joiner's book Mindlessness, which argues that mindfulness meditation has been oversold. The review calls Altered Traits "much needed" while dismissing Joiner's criticism of mindfulness as misplaced.[9]

An article on Mindful.org comments that "when you weed out the studies that don’t meet the highest scientific standards, as Goleman and Davidson have done in their book, a clear picture emerges of what we know about the science of meditation—and what we still need to learn."[10]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ Goleman, Daniel; Davidson, Richard J. (2017). The Science of Meditation: How to Change Your Brain, Mind and Body. Great Britain: Penguin Life. ISBN 978-0241975688.
  2. ^ Falvo, Perla Gianni; Manera, Giovanni Valeri; Zoss, Joel (2018). "Studies in Digital Heritage, Vol. 2, No. 2 , Publication date: December 2018 C onversation with Daniel Goleman about the relationship between the person viewing art and the art itself". Studies in Digital Heritage. 2 (1): 6–11. Retrieved 2 November 2019.
  3. ^ Jump up to:a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o Goleman, Daniel; Davidson, Richard J. (2017). Altered Traits: Science Reveals How Meditation Changes Your Mind, Brain, and Body. New York: Avery. ISBN 978-0399184383.
  4. ^ Goyal M, Singh S, Sibinga EM, Gould NF, Rowland-Seymour A, Sharma R, Berger Z, Sleicher D, Maron DD, Shihab HM, Ranasinghe PD, Linn S, Saha S, Bass EB, Haythornthwaite JA (March 2014). "Meditation programs for psychological stress and well-being: a systematic review and meta-analysis". JAMA Internal Medicine. 174 (3): 357–68. doi:10.1001/jamainternmed.2013.13018. PMC 4142584. PMID 24395196.
  5. ^ Lutz, Antoine; Greischar, Lawrence L.; Rawlings, Nancy B.; Ricard, Matthieu; Davidson, Richard J. (2004). "Long-term meditators self-induce high-amplitude gamma synchrony during mental practice". Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America. 101 (46): 16369–16373. Bibcode:2004PNAS..10116369L. doi:10.1073/pnas.0407401101. ISSN 1091-6490. PMC 526201. PMID 15534199.
  6. ^ Nana, Claire (8 October 2018). "Book Review: Altered Traits". Psych Central. Archived from the original on 10 March 2019. Retrieved 12 March 2019.
  7. ^ Suttie, Jill (15 September 2017). "Can Meditation Lead to Lasting Change?". Greater Good Magazine: Science-Based Insights for a Meaningful Life. UC Berkeley. Retrieved 12 March 2019.
  8. ^ Bonnstetter, Ronald (September 2018). "Book Review - Altered Traits: Science Reveals how meditation changes your mind, brain and body". NeuroRegulation. 5 (3): 103–104. doi:10.15540/nr.5.3.103. Retrieved 12 March 2019.
  9. ^ Bond, Michael (13 September 2017). "Lost in meditation: Two books argue over mindfulness". New Scientist. Retrieved 12 March 2019.
  10. ^ Delehanty, Hugh (13 December 2017). "The Science of Meditation". Mindful.org. Retrieved 16 March 2019.

External links[edit]




Categories: 2017 non-fiction books
Collaborative non-fiction books
Science books
Meditation
Avery Publishing books


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Altered Traits: Science Reveals How Meditation Changes Your Mind, Brain, and Body Hardcover – 5 September 2017
by Daniel Goleman (Author), Richard J. Davidson (Author)
4.5 out of 5 stars 1,203

Two New York Times–bestselling authors unveil new research showing what meditation can really do for the brain.

In the last twenty years, meditation and mindfulness have gone from being kind of cool to becoming an omnipresent Band-Aid for fixing everything from your weight to your relationship to your achievement level. Unveiling here the kind of cutting-edge research that has made them giants in their fields, Daniel Goleman and Richard Davidson show us the truth about what meditation can really do for us, as well as exactly how to get the most out of it.

Sweeping away common misconceptions and neuromythology to open readers’ eyes to the ways data has been distorted to sell mind-training methods, the authors demonstrate that beyond the pleasant states mental exercises can produce, the real payoffs are the lasting personality traits that can result. But short daily doses will not get us to the highest level of lasting positive change—even if we continue for years—without specific additions. More than sheer hours, we need smart practice, including crucial ingredients such as targeted feedback from a master teacher and a more spacious, less attached view of the self, all of which are missing in widespread versions of mind training. The authors also reveal the latest data from Davidson’s own lab that point to a new methodology for developing a broader array of mind-training methods with larger implications for how we can derive the greatest benefits from the practice.

Exciting, compelling, and grounded in new research, this is one of those rare books that has the power to change us at the deepest level.
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Avery (5 September 2017)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 336 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0399184384
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0399184383
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 15.88 x 2.54 x 23.5 cmBest Sellers Rank: 26,148 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)151 in Post-traumatic Stress Disorder
171 in Biology (Books)
294 in Behavioural Sciences (Books)Customer Reviews:
4.5 out of 5 stars 1,203




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Daniel Goleman


DANIEL GOLEMAN is the author of the international bestsellers Emotional Intelligence, Working with Emotional Intelligence, and Social Intelligence, and the co-author of the acclaimed business bestseller Primal Leadership. His latest books are What Makes a Leader: Why Emotional Intelligence Matters and The Triple Focus: A New Approach to Education. He was a science reporter for the New York Times, was twice nominated for the Pulitzer Prize, and received the American Psychological Association's Lifetime Achievement Award for his media writing. He lives in Massachusetts.

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Richard J. Davidson


Richard J. Davidson is the William James and Vilas Research Professor of Psychology and Psychiatry, Founder of the Center for Healthy Minds, and Director of the Waisman Laboratory for Brain Imaging and Behavior, University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Upcoming book with Daniel Goleman, "ALTERED TRAITS: Science Reveals How Meditation Changes Your Mind, Body and Brain", coming soon!

Please visit his website at http://centerhealthyminds.org

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Top review from Australia


Amazon Customer
1.0 out of 5 stars Not a reviewReviewed in Australia on 23 January 2019
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Not a speed reader to the extent that I can write a review a few days after ordering what seems to be not an easy read.
Anyway, unfortunately, I still haven't been able to work out how to actually read the book on line, from a computer, or
even from a mobile phone. Need time, energy and a sharply focused mind to get anywhere in that sense. Cheers and
all the best, C.



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Woof
5.0 out of 5 stars science supports religionReviewed in the United States on 22 October 2023
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Great book. It proves in a lab setting that a religion-based behavior can be quite beneficial in everyday life. That is: Meditation (a known Buddhist practice) is good for anybody independently of one's religious beliefs. It is a difficult activity to do every single day. It demands time and discipline. However the rewards are great. It confirmed what I had read in the book "Mindful Eating" by Jan Chozen Bays. . It can be applied to any area in need of improvement, healthier eating in this case. And it works, I can attest to that. It is very reassuring to know that meditation is worth doing even though it is very exacting. In this case at least, western science backs up a practice that seemed to have been beneficial for centuries in the East but known in the West for only decades.

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Daniela
5.0 out of 5 stars Muito bom!Reviewed in Brazil on 12 November 2022
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Livro super informativo, com uma visão científica da meditação, explica os estudos sem tentar vender algo mágico, recomendo!

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Amazon Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars So interesting!!!Reviewed in Canada on 28 April 2021
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I found this book extremely well researched It provides a neuroscience foundation to the physical and psychological benefits of meditation. Fascinating and meaningful!!!
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Longsands
5.0 out of 5 stars Well-researchedReviewed in Spain on 13 December 2022
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Comes as close as possible to proving what seasoned meditators already know: that if you stick with it day in day out, year after year, a spiritual awakening is the result.
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Paola Perez
5.0 out of 5 stars ExelenteReviewed in Mexico on 7 October 2020
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Súper calidad llegó rapidísimo
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