Compiled from Tribune news services by Richard Streeby

For the first time, meditation has been shown to produce lasting beneficial changes in immune-system function as well as brain electrical activity, according to a University of Wisconsin-Madison study released Monday.

The study looked at a group of 25 employees of a Madison, Wis.-area company who underwent an eight-week meditation training program.

As a part of the study at the end of the eight weeks, flu shots were given to the employees and a group of 16 other employees who did not receive meditation training. When researchers checked for antibodies to the vaccine at one month and two months later, the meditators had significantly higher levels than the nonmeditators.

On average, the meditators had about a 5 percent increase in antibodies, but some had increases of up to 25 percent, Davidson said.

More importantly, the level of antibodies increased directly in relation to the level of increased brain-wave activity, he said.

Researchers found about 50 percent more electrical activity in the left frontal regions of the brains of the meditators. Other research has showed that part of the brain is associated with positive emotions and anxiety reduction.

The study's findings will be published in the upcoming issue of Psychosomatic Medicine.

The original article "Meditation boosts Immune System" printed by the Salt Lake Tribune Feb 5, 2003 was found at http://www.sltrib.com/2003/Feb/02052003/nation_w/26451.asp