Monkeys meditate for marshmallows
- Published on Sunday, 02 October 2011
From New Scientist:
What would the Buddha have said? Monkeys have been trained to put themselves into a Zen-like trance – but out of desire for marshmallows rather than enlightenment.
The result suggests that simians could help to objectively test neurofeedback and other brain-training treatments for epilepsy or ADHD: they would be free of the placebo effects that humans might experience.
The monkeys may not realise that they are changing their brain activity, but it does show that they can consciously change their mood or state of mind ...
(Photo: Walter Saporiti)