evolution & neurology of meditation

Question 1

meditation

Answer 1

focusing the mind to achieve a state of deep concentration and relaxation
mental clarity
calming the mind, helping to improve attention and cultivate awareness
formal

Question 2

mindfulness

Answer 2

full attention to the present moment in a non-judgemental way
being aware of thoughts, feelings and body sensations
not reacting to thoughts or what’s around you
formal or informal

Question 3

4 noble truths of mindfulness

Answer 3

truth of suffering - live involves dissatisfaction
truth of the cause of suffering - suffering arises from craving
truth of the cessation of suffering - letting go of cravings
truth of the path to the cessation of suffering - eightfold path

Question 4

therapeutic approach

Answer 4

methods used to help address individuals psychological, emotional and/or behavioural difficulties
aim to improve wellbeing and coping mechanisms along with overall mental health

Question 5

issues with meditation

Answer 5

difficulty focusing - wandering attention
mind racing with anxiety, stress and unresolved emotions
physical discomfort
unrealistic expectations
bring up suppressed emotion and unresolved trauma
increased anxiety
cultural appropriateness
detaching from reality and responsibilities

Question 6

phylogeny

Answer 6

evolutionary history and relationship among species

Question 7

ontogeny

Answer 7

development and growth of an organism

Question 8

Skinner

Answer 8

phylogeny influxes the basic instincts and unlearned behaviour of species
these behaviours provide a basis for ontology to build upon

Question 9

unlearned response system

Answer 9

a set of innate, automatic reactions that organisms exhibit
usually critical for survival and often reflexive

Question 10

neurology of freezing

Answer 10

amygdala - fear processing
PAG - activation leads to motor inhibition
hypothalamus - parasympathetic activation
PFC - regulation of fear
cingulate cortex - emotional regulation

Question 11

neurological correlates of meditation

Answer 11

prefrontal cortex - attention, self regulation and emotional regulation
amygdala - redacted reactivity and increased emotional resilience
hippocampus - increased grey matter and improved emotional processing
cingulate cortex - improved attention and self control amygdaloid

Question 12

cultural transmission of freezing

Answer 12

social learning - through observation
norms and socialisation -collective trauma
cultural scripts and media - patterns of behaviour
psychological factors - learned helplessness