The Mindful Brain

April 16, 2007
Siegel, co-director of the UCLA Mindful Awareness Center, blends personal experience with scientific research, attempting to capture the spiritual as well as the physiological phenomenon of "mindfulness"-or, in Siegel's acronym-speak, COAL: the state of simultaneous Curiosity, Openness, Acceptance and Love. Siegel's endeavor is timely and well-intentioned, but his is an elusive subject, and his text is peppered with confusing, semi-technical descriptions of mind-states (like meditation) and processes (like egocentric and allocentric circuitry) that frequently frustrate. Despite this, Siegel does introduce persuasive scientific evidence that meditation and the mindful state not only produce improvement in well-being, but also detectable physical changes in the brain, such as a thickening of the middle prefrontal lobes. He also introduces exotic new vocabulary, such as "ipseity," "the core sense of self beneath the usual personal identity." If the result of Siegel's marriage of medicine and mysticism is something of a muddle, he is to be commended for the effort, and his attitude toward science is unique in a medical doctor (tellingly, Siegal took a sabbatical from med school after being reprimanded for empathizing with his patients, rather than objectifying them, and used the time to pursue drawing and dancing). Though uneven and weighed down with too many acronyms, this is a notable science title that smartly combines the personal, the clinical and the spiritual.

Dr. Siegel explores aspects of the mind-body connection, first looking at the topic generally and then specifically with respect to the application of mindful awareness to daily life. His presentation is clear and well organized. In particular, it accommodates a range of understanding of the science of the brain and of meditation and mindfulness practice. Speaking in a relaxed conversational tone, he breaks down concepts into manageable segments and provides illustrations from practical experiences. Siegel has a penchant for mnemonic devices, which may be of assistance to some. Meditations are introduced with a statement of their intent, as well as an estimate of how long they will take. They, too, are well paced, calm, and well constructed. J.E.M. (c) AudioFile 2008, Portland, Maine