The brain has been “on my brain” for the last few weeks as I’ve been planning the New Science of the Brain teleseminar series.
I’ve started to wonder how mindfulness meditation can change the brain. Turns out, others have been wondering the same thing…
Sara Lazar, PhD runs a Meditation Laboratory out of Harvard. Her lab has used magnetic resonance imaging to measure the cortical thickness of individuals who have had extensive meditation experience.
The results: Brain regions associated with attention, interoception and sensory processing were thicker in meditation participants than matched controls, including the prefrontal cortex and right anterior insula.
And the thickness corresponded to the amount of meditation experience the participant had. The differences in prefrontal cortical thickness were particularly seen in older participants.
Now, I can’t claim to be a world-class meditator but it does make me think that we’re on to something here. While those of us who meditate know that mindfulness works, it’s still nice to know that science is backing us up.
In our webinar series on The New Brain Science we talk about The Neurobiology of Mindfulness and focus specifically on clinical applications. Again, we’ll be drilling down into how we can harness the power of neuroplasticity.
In our last blog post, I talked about how one of the things we can all do to improve brain function is to exercise. Now in addition to exercising, we can also keep up with our mindfulness practices. Meditation just might help to offset age-related cortical thickening. Your brain will thank you for it.
But there’s a lot more to it than that.
Come join our series to find out more. You can find the series here.
What do you think? Share your comments on mindfulness and brain health.
I’m new to your blog and i really appreciate the nice posts and great layout.:..`’
thanks for all you do
First of all, you don’t have to apologize for what you believe in. 🙂 I’m not at all surprised that you have guardian angels, or, spirit guides. I do too. We all do, but those who do not share in these beliefs will never come to know or ‘see’ theirs. It has nothing to do with religion of any kind. I do not share your beliefs in a christian god though, those beliefs belong to you, respectfully.. . I do believe in a higher intelligence of ‘some kind’ just not the biblical kind, speaking from my own experience. I receive my messages in very vivid dreams, or, right before I wake up I will see something written in my mind’s eye or hear something. I’m not psychic, but from time to time I receive messages about future events or circumstances that are happening in my life now that do come true. I have also heard from my relatives that have passed on. Removing all doubt about the spirit realm.. . Also, being very careful with regards to what you are listening to or being told. Be sure you hold on to your heart and mind and lovingly guard and protect them at all times. Always use discretion, no matter how much you trust your guides, making sure nothing else, of a negative nature, sneeks in.
My practice includes mindfulness techniques such as being present. I am grateful for the teachings of Ernest Rossi on the plasticity of the mind as well as the mindfulness skills taught by Dr. Marsha Linehan and spiritual author Eckhart Tolle. I look forward to reading your information on the positive effects of Mindfulness.