Abstract
In contemporary literature are present many studies dealing with antomical-fyziological effect of meditation techniques on the human. Belongs here electrical aktivity of the brain (Davidson et al., 2003), changes in the blood supply of the brain structures (thalamic nuclei, cingulate gyrus, orbitofrontal cortex and dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (Newberg et al., 2001)). (Brown et al., 1984) studied visual sensitivity in meditators - after three months intensive meditation training was tested group able detect shorter single light flashes and also required shorter time interval for recognition of separate light flashes in comparison with pre training period.
This supports concept, that attention training is connected with perception changes. (Benson et al., 1990) studied three tibetan monks with result that meditation is connected with increase or decrease of basal metabolism and EEG changes, including increased beta aktivity and alfa asymmetry and beta activity in between hemishperes. (Lutz et al., 2004) has found that repeated meditation induces higher amplitude gamma oscillation and phase synchronisation on the EEG. He also recognized higher ratio of high amplitude gamma activity to slow oscillation activity in electrodes located in the media frontoparietal cortex prior, during and after meditation.
For further information about meditation influence on fyziological function of organism see (Austin, 1999). From the literature overview is clear that many studies deal only with relatively small groups of meditators, having already established long term and profound meditation practise.
From this point it is very difficult to link specifical buddhist concepts of psychology (for example conditioning) with brain function correlates in terms of neuroanatomy. Research in this field is focused on meditation techniques that could be described in terms of psychology (for example fear decrease) or in terms of brain structure and function, for review (Kelly, 2008).
Despite obstacles with meditation investigation metodology existing literature show that regular meditation practise could have significant and detectable effect on the brain, especially on its frontal and parietotemporal lobe. In our study we have tried to compare concept of buddhist eight consciousness with functional neuroanatomy of the brain