Changing the brain with Meditation
Research has shown that a regular practice of mindful meditation not only changes how we think and process the world around us, but also changes the chemicals in and physical structure of our brains.
The immediate effects of meditation can be felt by the decrease in stress hormones like cortisol and an increase on dopamine, serotonin, and oxytocin - hormones associated with positive feelings. Over time, the hippocampus, the part of the brain responsible for emotional regulation, increases in size. This area of the brain has actually been shown to be smaller in individuals with trauma, PTSD, and depression prior to the positive changes of meditative practices. The temporoparietal junction, associated with creativity/empathy/compassion, also grows. The amygdala, or “fight or flight” part of the brain, shrinks in size. These changes indicate an actual biological reason why people report feeling less stressed, better able to manage difficult situations, more compassionate and understanding of others, and better able to focus and stay on task after they take up meditative practices.
The prefrontal cortex is responsible for decision making, reasoning, personality expression, maintaining social appropriateness, and other complex cognitive behaviors. As we age, this portion of our brain shrinks, leading to difficulties with these higher functions that were once so simple. However, studies suggest “that meditation practice may slow down or prevent the natural age-related decline in cortical structure”. (Sara Lazar, Ph.D.) Brain scans have shown that the prefrontal cortex of lifelong meditators in their 50’s was the same size as individuals in their 20’s. Studies have also shown an increase in the cognitive function and positive growth in the prefrontal cortex (among other areas of the brain) of elderly individuals who take up a regular meditation practice.
I invite you to learn more about Sara Lazar, Ph.D and her research on the neuroscience of yoga and meditation.
Harvard University, The Lazar Lab: https://scholar.harvard.edu/sara_lazar/home
How Meditation Can Reshape Our Brains: https://youtu.be/m8rRzTtP7Tc
How Meditation Changes the Brain: https://youtu.be/GOIwtTmpc-I