Neurobiologische und experimentelle Befunde der Zen-Meditation

Zusammenfassung

Schon vor mehr als 15 Jahren fanden Meditation und das meditative Moment der Achtsamkeit Einzug in psychotherapeutische Konzepte. Vornehmlich wird auf Elemente des Zen-Buddhismus zurückgegriffen. Es kommen aber auch zahlreiche andere Meditationsarten zur Anwendung. Bisher fehlt allerdings eine verbindliche und objektive Definition dessen, was Meditation in seiner psychischen und neurophysiologischen Dimension ist. Die fehlende Operationalisierung des Phänomens Meditation ist auch der entscheidende methodische Mangel der bisherigen Untersuchungen. Die Zen-Meditation (Zazen) ist eine definierte Methode mit langer Tradition. Unter dem Gesichtspunkt der neurobiologischen Grundlagenforschung finden sich nur wenige Studien und es liegt nur eine fMRI-Studie vor. Bei sehr unterschiedlichem Design liefern die EEG-Studien keine spezifischen und replizierbaren Ergebnisse. Acht Untersuchungen befassen sich mit psychischen bzw. physiologischen Effekten der Zen-Meditation unter experimentellen Bedingungen. Als Ergebnisse finden sich wiederholt Verbesserung von Aufmerksamkeitsleistungen, Förderung emotionaler Stabilität und Milderung stressbedingter psycho- vegetativer Reaktionen. Die weitere experimentelle Meditationsforschung bedarf vor allem einer verbindlichen Definition dessen, was Meditation ist. Außerdem muss klar zwischen neurobiologischen und klinischen ,,states“ und ,,traits“ der Meditation unterschieden werden.

Summary

Since more than 15 years meditation and its moment of mindfulness have made their way into psychotherapy. Usally these methods falling back on Zen-buddhistic principles which represent only one of many meditation types being therapeutically used. A significant lack has to be stated with regard to an objective and binding definition of meditation concerning its mental and neurobiological dimension which is to be considered as one of the most crucial methodical shortcomings of research in this field. Additionally, different subjects have been investigated using different study designs making the results incomparable. Zen-meditation (Zazen) is a well-defined method with a long tradition. Unfortunately, not many studies investigating this method have been undertaken, and there is only one fMRI study. Again, the methodically different EEG studies delivered inconsistent results. We found eight original studies dealing with mental and physiologic effects of Zen-meditation revealing its positive influence on cognitive and emotional parameters as well as on stress-related psycho- vegetative dysfunctions. The quality of future clinical and experimental meditation research depends on a sound definition of meditation as well as an accurate distinction of neurobio-logical “states” and “traits” of meditation.

Schlüsselwörter

Zen-Meditation, - Neurobiologie, - experimentelle Befunde

Keywords

Zen-Meditation, - neurobiology, - experimental findings

• Literatur

• 1 Kabat-Zinn J, Lipworth L, Burney R. The clinical use of mindfulness meditation for the self-regulation of chronic pain. J Behav Med 1985; 8: 163-189.
• 2 Kabat-Zinn J, Massion AO, Kristeller J. et al. Effectiveness of a meditation-based stress reduction program in the treatment of anxiety disorders. Am J Psychiatry 1992; 149: 936-943.
• 3 Kabat-Zinn HJ, Wheeler E, Light T. et al. Influence of a mindfulness meditation-based stress reduction intervention on rates of skin clearing in patients with moderate to severe psoriasis undergoing phototherapy (UVB) and photochemotherapy (PUVA). Psychosom Med 1998; 60: 652-632.
• 4 Miller JJ, Fletcher K, Kabat-Zinn J. Three-year follow-up and clinical implications of a mindfulness meditation-based stress reduction intervention in the treatment of anxiety disorders. Gen Hosp Psychiatry 1995; 17: 192-200.
• 5 Speca M, Carlson LE, Goodey E, Angen M. A randomized, wait-list controlled clinical trial: The effect of a mindfulness meditation-based stress reduction program on mood and symptoms of stress in cancer outpatients. Psychosom Med 2000; 62: 613-622.
• 6 Bishop SR. What do we really know about mindfulness- based stress reduction?. Psychosom Med 2002; 64: 71-84.
• 7 Cahn BR, Polich J. Meditation States and Traits: EEG, ERP and neuroimaging studies. Psychol Bull 2006; 132: 180-211.
• 8 Neumann NU, Frasch K. Meditation aus neurobiologischer Sicht. Psychother Psychosom Med Psychol 2006; 56: 488-492.
• 9 Deshimaru T. Za-Zen – die Praxis des Zen. Heidelberg/ Leimen: Werner Kristkeitz Verlag; 1978
• 10 Hanh TN. Schlüssel zum Zen. Freiburg: Herder; 1997
• 11 Suzuki DT. Za-Zen – Die Übung des Zen. München: O. W. Barth Verlag; 1993
• 12 Suzuki S. Zen-Geist, Anfänger-Geist. Berlin: Theseus; 2001
• 13 Becker DE, Shapiro D. Physiological responses to clicks during Zen, yoga and TM meditation. Psychophysiology 1981; 18: 694-699.
• 14 Heide FJ. Psychophysiological responsiveness to auditory stimulation during transcendental meditation. Psychophysiology 1986; 23: 71-75.
• 15 Lehmann D, Faber P, Achermann P. et al. Brain sources of EEG gamma frequency during volitio nally meditation-induced, altered states of consciousness and experience of the self. Psychiat Res 2001; 108: 111-121.
• 16 Mathew RJ, Wilson WH, Chiu NY. et al. Regional cerebral blood flow and depersonalization after tetrahydrocannabinol administration. Acta Psychiat Scand 1999; 100: 67-75.
• 17 Miller BL, Seeley WW, Mychak P. et al. Neuroanatomy of the self: Evidence from patients with frontotemporal dementia. Neurology 2002; 57: 817-821.
• 18 Murata T, Takahashi T, Hamada T. et al. Individual trait anxiety levels characterizing the properties of zen meditation. Neuropsychobiology 2004; 50: 189-194.
• 19 Takahashi T, Murata T, Hamada T. et al. Changes in EEG and autonomic nervous activity during meditation and their association with personality traits. Int J Psychophysiol 2005; 55: 199-207.
• 20 Becker DE, Shapiro D. Directing attention toward stimuli affects the P 300 but not the orienting response. Psychophysiology 1980; 17: 385-389.
• 21 Ritskes R, Ritskes-Hoitinga M, Stodkilde-Jorgensen H. et al. MRI scanning during zen meditation: the picture of enlightenment ?. Constructivism in the Human Sciences 2003; 8: 85-90.
• 22 Crosson B, Sadek JR, Maron L. et al. Relative shift in activity from medial to lateral frontal cortex during internally versus externally guided word generation. J Cognitive Neurosci 2001; 13: 272-283.
• 23 Pardo JV, Fox PT, Raichle ME. Localization of a human system for sustained attention by positron emission tomography. Nature 1991; 349: 61-64.
• 24 Beauregard M, Levesque J, Bourgouin P. Neural correlates of conscious self-regulation of emotion. J Neurosci 2002; 21: 165.
• 25 Levesque J, Eugene F, Joanette Y. et al. Neural circuitry underlying voluntary suppression of sadness. Biol Psychiat 2003; 53: 502-510.
• 26 Tlocynski J, Santucci A, Astor-Stetson E. Perception of visual illusions by novice and longer-term meditators. Percept Mot Skills 2000; 91: 1021-1026.
• 27 Gillani NB, Smith JC. Zen meditation and ABC relaxation theory: an exploration of relaxation states, beliefs, dispositions and motivations. J Clin Psychol 2001; 57: 839-846.
• 28 Smith JC, Wedell AB, Kolotylo CJ. et al. ABC relaxation theory and the factor structure of relaxation states, recalled relaxation activities, dispositions, and motivations. Psychol Rep 2000; 86: 1201-1208.
• 29 Peng CK, Henry IC, Mietus JE. et al. Heart rate dynamics during three forms of meditation. Int J Cardiol 2004; 95: 19-27.
• 30 Cysarz D, Bussing A. Cardiorespiratory synchronization during Zen meditation. Eur J Appl Physiol 2005; 95: 88-95.
• 31 Kim DH, Moon YS, Kim HS, Jung JS. et al. Effect of zen meditation on serum nitric oxide activity and lipid peroxidation. Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry 2005; 29: 327-331.
• 32 Newberg A, Iversen J. The neural basis of the complex mental task of meditation: Neurotransmitter and neurochemical considerations. Med Hypotheses 2003; 61: 282-291.
• 33 Shapiro SL, Walsh R. An analysis of recent meditation research and suggestions for future directions. Humanistic Psychol 2003; 31: 86-114.
• 34 Walsh R. The original goals of meditation. Am J Psychiatry 1982; 139: 1525-1526.
• 35 Suzuki DT. Koan – Der Sprung ins Grenzenlose. München: O. W. Barth Verlag; 1994: 23-30 104-118.
• 36 Hanh TN. Das Wunder der Achtsamkeit. Berlin: Theseus; 2002
• 37 Suzuki DT. Zen und die Kunst zu siegen, ohne zu kämpfen. Der Schwertweg. Freiburg: Herder; 2002
• 38 Shimano ET, Douglas DB. On research in zen. Am J Psychiatry 1975; 132: 1300-1302.
• 39 Corby JC, Roth WT, Zarcone VP, Kopell BS. Psychophysiological correlates of the practice of tantric yoga meditation. Arch Gen Psychiat 1978; 35: 571-577.
• 40 Pagnano RR, Rose RM, Stivers RM, Warrenberg S. Sleep during transcendental meditation. Science 1976; 191: 308-310.
• 41 Heidenreich T, Michalak J. Achtsamkeit (,,Mindfulness“) als Therapieprinzip in Verhaltenstherapie und Verhaltensmedizin. Verhaltensmed 2003; 13: 264-274.
• 42 Ma SH, Teasdale JD. Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy of depression: Replication and exploration of differential relapse prevention effects. J Consult Clin Psychol 2004; 72: 31-40.
• 43 Teasdale JD, Moore RG, Hayhurst H. et al. Metacognitive awareness and prevention of relapse in depression: Empirical evidence. J Consult Clin Psychol 2002; 70: 275-287.