Meditation Fact: Brain Changes

With the aid of “modern” medicine and imagining technology, we can now measure what is occurring in the brain during meditation. And to no surprise (at least to me), there are actual structural changes that occur with a consistent practice of meditation.

One study conducted in 2020 (reviewing previous research on meditation and how it correlates to neurodevelopment) found that “ The available evidence from structural studies suggests that mediation impacts neuronal plasticity and the functional MRI suggest that there are changes in gray and white matter in subjects who meditate.

FMRI studies show that meditation is associated with decreased activity of default mode network and activation of brain regions involved in cognitive and emotional control.

Together, the available imaging techniques have revealed that rather than impacting specific brain regions, meditation causes structural and functional changes in large-scale brain networks.” (Behan C. The benefits of meditation and mindfulness practices during times of crisis such as COVID-19. Ir J Psychol Med. 2020 Dec;37(4):256-258. doi: 10.1017/ipm.2020.38. Epub 2020 May 14. PMID: 32406348; PMCID: PMC7287297.)

I present this because for some (sometime even myself) the woo-woo reason for practicing meditation is not enough of a driver to be consistent with the practice. But with the knowledge and evidence that meditation does create actual changes in the brain, this offerings much more reason and motivation to not only commence but keep up with the practice.

One thing I believe is worth serious note is the fact that meditation can activate regions of the brain involved in cognitive and emotional control. This would explain the experience of peace and harmony that comes about from a consistent meditation practice.