How Meditation May Change the Brain

by Robert Wilkinson

Today we find studies indicating meditation changes the gray matter density in the brain for the better in areas associated with memory, self esteem, empathy, and stress.

This New York Times article by Sindya Bhanoo, titled How Meditation May Change the Brain, offers us concrete data about how meditation strengthens the part of the brain dealing with memory, self-awareness, and connectivity with others while decreasing the mass associated with anxiety and stress. It seems as though meditating for even 30 minutes a day really can improve our life!!

The research findings are being formally announced in the Jan. 30 issue of Psychiatry Research: Neuroimaging. For now, here are a few excerpts from the NYT article, which you should check out if you want the whole story. (Just realize at some point you'll have to register online. It's free, and worth it.)

From the article:

... The researchers report that those who meditated for about 30 minutes a day for eight weeks had measurable changes in gray-matter density in parts of the brain associated with memory, sense of self, empathy and stress.

M.R.I. brain scans taken before and after the participants’ meditation regimen found increased gray matter in the hippocampus, an area important for learning and memory. The images also showed a reduction of gray matter in the amygdala, a region connected to anxiety and stress. A control group that did not practice meditation showed no such changes.

Britta Hölzel, a psychologist at Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School and the study’s lead author, said the participants practiced mindfulness meditation, a form of meditation that was introduced in the United States in the late 1970s. It traces its roots to ancient Buddhist techniques....

“The main idea is to use different objects to focus one’s attention, and it could be a focus on sensations of breathing, or emotions or thoughts, or observing any type of body sensations,” she said. “But it’s about bringing the mind back to the here and now, as opposed to letting the mind drift.”

Generally the meditators are seated upright on a chair or the floor and in silence, although sometimes there might be a guide leading a session, Dr. Hölzel said.

... a 2009 study suggests that meditation may reduce blood pressure in patients with coronary heart disease. And a 2007 study found that meditators have longer attention spans.

Previous studies have also shown that there are structural differences between the brains of meditators and those who don’t meditate, although this new study is the first to document changes in gray matter over time through meditation.

Ultimately, Dr. Hölzel said she and her colleagues would like to demonstrate how meditation results in definitive improvements in people’s lives.

“A lot of studies find that it increases well-being, improves quality of life, but it’s always hard to determine how you can objectively test that,” she said. “Relatively little is known about the brain and the psychological mechanisms about how this is being done.”

In a 2008 study published in the journal PloS One, researchers found that when meditators heard the sounds of people suffering, they had stronger activation levels in their temporal parietal junctures, a part of the brain tied to empathy, than people who did not meditate.

“They may be more willing to help when someone suffers, and act more compassionately,” Dr. Hölzel said.

So science has finally figured out what meditators have known for thousands of years. Time spent communing with All-That-Is, training the mind, feelings, and body to concentrate upon single points of focus in the here and now, leads us to greater compassion, calm, memory, and self-awareness.

Meditation is one of the greatest regenerative tools we have. There are many ways to meditate, each benefiting some area of consciousness. Find time to go deep within, learning how to get out of your own way. The rewards are amazing, and will continue for as long as you breathe. All it requires is your time, attention, and practice.

© Copyright 2011 Robert Wilkinson

Comments

[Jorge Torres]

ThankYou Robert Wilkinson !!!

“Meditation brings wisdom; lack of mediation leaves ignorance. Know well what leads you forward and what hold you back, and choose the path that leads to wisdom.” Buddha.

Blessings !!!

[Isabel Nobre]

Excellent, Robert, as usual!

I find it wonderful that you not only use this site to share so much knowledge of Astrology, but that you also use it to delve into a search for Wisdom. Meditation is possibly the one technique that could be used globally in order to educate people into knowing themselves and others and bringing about a better, more compassionate world!

Love,

Isabel

[Isabel Nobre]

Jorge,

What a beautiful quote from the Buddha!

Isabel

[Micheline]

Robert timely advice. I have to say this is not my strong suit. I need to work on this. I am though very interested and doing some research on sound meditation...Using chant seems to work for me. Also dance meditation. Though the main problem here is finding the space to do something like sufi dance. Which I love. I love to whirl like that.

anyway thanks very much

[Neenu]

Thank you Robert. Enjoy your site very much. Interesting that you posted about meditation today. I am in a teacher training course for meditation so I am very much interested in the research. Also just last night there was a piece on Canadian TV as to how useful meditation is in our daily lives. Great timing!! Thanks.

[Valerie]

Hi Robert, thanks for sharing this great article. To me the best defense for meditation is, try it you'll like it! I have gone through phases of daily meditation to sporadic to none and back again, depending on how frantic my life becomes. I'm heading back into the daily practice and I remember how good it used to make me feel. It makes me feel less crazy. It heals and lengthens life. Thanks again! Namaste :)

[Shiloh K]

I always could feel the benefits of meditation, but didn't know how it physically effects the brain. Fantastic news!