| Titel: | Alterations in brain and immune function produced by mindfulness meditation: three caveats |
|---|---|
| Autor: | Smith, JC |
| Mediengruppe: | journal article |
| Herausgeber: | --- |
| Zeitschrift: | Psychosomatic Medicine |
| Jahr: | 2004 |
| Band: | 66 |
| Heft: | 1 |
| Seiten: | 148-152; author reply 148-152 |
| Sprache: | English |
| Abstract: | Comments on the article by R. J. Davidson et al (see record 2003-07002-015) regarding alterations in brain and immune function produced by mindfulness meditation. Though this research has generated substantial media and popular attention, the current author offers three caveats. First, most research on mindfulness has examined Kabat-Zinn's approach. Few, if any, studies have cautioned that the Kabat- Zinn system is not pure mindfulness, but an amalgam of mindfulness meditation, concentrative meditation, passive breathing exercises, yoga stretching, and even a bit of imagery, autogenic training, and Buddhist psychology. Thus, it is impossible to determine if obtained benefits are the result of meditation, stretching, breathing, or a synergistic combination of all components. Second, we know very little about the biological effects of activities that consistently evoke positive states. Third, there is the problem of happiness. The current author argues that positive state researchers have restricted their attention to just one or two positive dimensions, usually happiness; such a focus limits what meditation research can find. It is concluded that those who do meditation research should be mindful that their findings and enthusiastic recommendations are grounded in fact. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2012 APA, all rights reserved) |