Biological Approach

Psychology - AS Level
BIOLOGICAL APPROACH
H Ö LZEL ET AL (MINDFULNESS & BRAIN
SCANS)
Biological Approach
HÖLZEL ET AL (Mindfulness & Brain Scans)
What is mindfulness meditation?

Britta Hölzel is a psychologist, neuroscientist & mindfulness based
stress reduction / yoga teacher.
She used magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans to investigate
structural & functional brain changes that occur following regular
mindfulness meditation.
Mindfulness is a stress-reduction technique used to improve wellbeing.
Develop awareness of the present moment
Encourages a compassionate / non-judgemental attitude
Anxiety / chronic pain / substance abuse cure
Positive impact on personal well-being
Mindfulness Meditation Practice
- Make yourself comfortable
- Close your eyes
- Relax your body
- Focus on the rise and fall of your breathing
- Start to focus your attention on different parts of the body – a
“body scan”
- Begin at your toes / feet and work your way up your whole body
– Focus on your muscles and any tension you might feel
Do you meditate? How does it feel? Do you think it works? Is it a

useful strategy for relaxation? Does it make you feel strange?
Phineas Gage
Who was he?
Born in 1823, Phineas Gage was a U.S. railroad construction worker.
He was known as being smart and shrewd, as well as a hard-worker.
Physically, he was well-built and strong.
On 13th September 1848, an accident caused an iron rod – 3.2 cm wide
and 1.1 metre long) to shoot up and enter the left side of his face.
Through his lower jaw, the iron rod passed through his whole head,
behind his left eye, fracturing his cheekbone, penetrating the left side of
his brain and exiting through the top of his skull.
The rod landed 25m away covered in brain and blood.
After some body convulsions, he was speaking within a few minutes,
could walk and displayed evidence of rationality. He lost site in his left
eye, suffering occasional lapses in memory, concentration and
recognising people he had known throughout his life.
How do you feel brains were
studied 100-years ago?
Localisation of Function
Specific areas of the brain are associated
with certain functions and psychological
processes.
Physical damage and internal trauma can
change a person’s personality.
- Stroke
- Alzheimers / Dementia
– Trauma
- Heart attacks (restricted oxygen to the
brain)
Different parts of the brain perform specific functions.
The Hippocampus deals with learning / memory /
emotional control / spatial navigation.
Amygdala helps to process fearful and threatening
stimulae. However, proper function relies on all areas
working together in harmont.
The Hölzel et al. study investigates how mindfulness
mediation may affect localisation of function in the
brain via changing actual brain density.
Evidence suggests that increased brain volume or
density is linked to increased performane abilities.
Detailed MRI scans were used to create models of the
human brain.
These models were used to measure microscopic changes
that occur in specific brain structures following
mindfulness practice.
Plasticity of the brain: The above changes are called
structural plasticity and can be quantified using voxel-
based mophometry (VBM).
VBM: A process which measures the concentration of
grey matter (a type of brain tissue) in key brain structures.
Mindfullness-Based
Stress Reduction
A technique developed by Profession Jon Kabat-Zinn (USA).
Combines Buddhist mediation with a scientific approach.
Developed an 8-week programme of 2.5 hour weekly group
meetings, plus a 6.5 training day.
Members are encouraged to:
BODY SCAN / MINDFUL YOGA / SITTING MEDITATION
”Five Facets of Mindfulness Questionairre” Baer et al.

Ruth Bear developed a way to measure changes in five key
areas of mindfulness.
Mindfullness-Based Stress Reduction
Passing thoughts and feelings:
(1) Observe them
(2) Describe them
(3) How to not react to them
(4) Awareness of your actions
Biophysicists are still uncertain as to how mindfulness techniques increase well-

being, yet neuroimaging is beginning to reveal which brain structures are involved.
Previous Research
Experienced meditators have significantly more grey matter in some key brain
areas.
Hippocampus and insula have been identified as important areas. fMRI scans show
that the hippocampus is particularly active during meditation (Lazar et al. 2000).
Likewise, longitudinal studies have shown that grey matter increases in key brain
structures when people learn new skills, knowledge and languages.
*fMRI: Produce FUNCTIONAL scans, rather than STRUCTURAL. Measures
heightened blood flow in key areas.
Voxel Based Morphometry
“Volume & Pixel”: A tiny cubic measurement used to quantify the volume o three-
dimensional structures. It allows researchers to compare the relative size of brain
structures between people, as well as to monitor changes in a single individual over
time.
Involves classifying brain tissue into grey matter & white matter.
White matter is found closer to the centre of the brain. It contains nerve fibers
(axons) – the endings of neurons – and makes up 60% of the structure.
Grey Matter vs. White Matter
40% of the brain is made up of grey matter. It can be
found on the outer edges of the sphere. Grey matter
contains most of the brain’s neuronal cell bodies, and
fully develops when a person is in his/her early
twenties. It is responsible for sending information
around the body and conducts the significant
neurological processes.
White matter develops until a person is middle-aged.
It is responsible for interpreting information from
various parts of the body, essentially “reading” any
responses received from the signals sent out by grey
matter neurons.
Evaluate the study by Hölzel et al. (mindfulness and brain scans) in
terms of two strengths and two weaknesses. At least one of your
evaluation points must be about generalisations.

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Psychology - AS Level

What is mindfulness meditation?

Do you meditate? How does it feel? Do you think it works? Is it a

”Five Facets of Mindfulness Questionairre” Baer et al.

Biophysicists are still uncertain as to how mindfulness techniques increase well-

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