Did you know that practicing mindfulness meditation can have neurological benefits? Recent research using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) or electroencephalograms (EEGs) appears to showcase changes in grey matter volume to reduce activity in the “me” centers of the brain, enhancing connectivity between brain regions via mindfulness meditation. The “me” center of the brain, also known as the medial prefrontal cortex, is the section that processes information relating to ourselves and our experiences (Stillman, 2017). fMRIs are used to detect the changes in blood oxygenation and flow that occur in response to neural activity (Dewis, 2019) while an EEG is used to detect abnormalities in brain waves or in the electrical activity of the brain (Johns Hopkins Medicine, 2021). Changes in grey matter influence the level of processing and mental development of humans, and their level of control over movement, memories and emotions. It has been shown that mental training such as meditation has resulted in an increase in grey matter volume and/or density in different regions throughout the brain (Tang et al., 2020). Researchers have found that meditation also has the ability to reduce symptoms of depression, anxiety and pain. Additionally, eight-weeks of mindfulness meditation was found to increase cortical thickness in the hippocampus, which functions in learning and memory and has other roles in emotion regulation and self-referential processing. In the same study with the eight week mindfulness meditation, there was a decrease in brain volume in the amygdala, which is responsible for fear, anxiety, and stress and influences changes in stress levels. Other studies have shown improved concentration and attention and reduced social anxiety after meditation (Walton, 2021). With all this in mind, would you consider integrating mindfulness meditation practices into your routine?
About the Author
Lawrence Nguyen is a junior at Nova Southeastern University concentrating in Biology with a secondary field in Marketing.
References
Dewis, L. (2019, August 30). How FMRI Works. How FMRI works. Retrieved March 6, 2022, from https://www.open.edu/openlearn/body-mind/health/health-sciences/how-fmri-works
Electroencephalogram (EEG). Johns Hopkins Medicine. (2021). Retrieved March 6, 2022, from https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/treatment-tests-and-therapies/electroencephalogram-eeg#:~:text=An%20EEG%20is%20a%20test,activity%20of%20your%20brain%20cells.
Stillman, J. (2017, March 31). Neuroscience: This is how meditation changes your brain for the better. Inc.com. Retrieved March 6, 2022, from https://www.inc.com/jessica-stillman/how-meditation-rewires-your-brain-for-less-anxiety-and-faster-learning.html#:~:text=There's%20a%20section%20of%20our,to%20ourselves%20and%20our%20experiences.
Tang, R., Friston, K. J., & Tang, Y.-Y. (2020, November 16). Brief mindfulness meditation induces gray matter changes in a Brain Hub. Neural plasticity. Retrieved March 6, 2022, from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7704181/#:~:text=Mental%20training%20studies%20such%20as,24%2C%2044%E2%80%9346%5D.
Walton, A. G. (2021, December 10). 7 ways meditation can actually change the brain. Forbes. Retrieved March 6, 2022, from https://www.forbes.com/sites/alicegwalton/2015/02/09/7-ways-meditation-can-actually-change-the-brain/?sh=5b7d6f551465
About the Author
Lawrence Nguyen is a junior at Nova Southeastern University concentrating in Biology with a secondary field in Marketing.
References
Dewis, L. (2019, August 30). How FMRI Works. How FMRI works. Retrieved March 6, 2022, from https://www.open.edu/openlearn/body-mind/health/health-sciences/how-fmri-works
Electroencephalogram (EEG). Johns Hopkins Medicine. (2021). Retrieved March 6, 2022, from https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/treatment-tests-and-therapies/electroencephalogram-eeg#:~:text=An%20EEG%20is%20a%20test,activity%20of%20your%20brain%20cells.
Stillman, J. (2017, March 31). Neuroscience: This is how meditation changes your brain for the better. Inc.com. Retrieved March 6, 2022, from https://www.inc.com/jessica-stillman/how-meditation-rewires-your-brain-for-less-anxiety-and-faster-learning.html#:~:text=There's%20a%20section%20of%20our,to%20ourselves%20and%20our%20experiences.
Tang, R., Friston, K. J., & Tang, Y.-Y. (2020, November 16). Brief mindfulness meditation induces gray matter changes in a Brain Hub. Neural plasticity. Retrieved March 6, 2022, from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7704181/#:~:text=Mental%20training%20studies%20such%20as,24%2C%2044%E2%80%9346%5D.
Walton, A. G. (2021, December 10). 7 ways meditation can actually change the brain. Forbes. Retrieved March 6, 2022, from https://www.forbes.com/sites/alicegwalton/2015/02/09/7-ways-meditation-can-actually-change-the-brain/?sh=5b7d6f551465
