Evidence Builds That Meditation Strengthens the Brain

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Submitted by Rain on

Science Daily - 3/14/12

Cortical Surface Shown is the lateral view of the right cortical surface. The red circle indicates where the maximum effect occurred. Top: Larger gyrification in 50 long-term meditators compared to 50 well-matched controls. Bottom: Positive correlations between gyrification and the number of meditation years within the 50 meditators. (Credit: Image courtesy of University of California - Los Angeles)
 

Earlier evidence out of UCLA suggested that meditating for years thickens the brain (in a good way) and strengthens the connections between brain cells. Now a further report by UCLA researchers suggests yet another benefit.

Eileen Luders, an assistant professor at the UCLA Laboratory of Neuro Imaging, and colleagues, have found that long-term meditators have larger amounts of gyrification ("folding" of the cortex, which may allow the brain to process information faster) than people who do not meditate. Further, a direct correlation was found between the amount of gyrification and the number of meditation years, possibly providing further proof of the brain's neuroplasticity, or ability to adapt to environmental changes.

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This evidence already came

Submitted by glr_Andrea on

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This evidence already came out in 2000, when the Dalay Lama and many other monks were put into scanners. Another evidence showed that their amigdala (where early emotions create a "program" -oh look!) grow bigger and is no more stuck into fear-reaction mode and rather becomes a highway between the thalamus and the pineal. Which is also what Heart Math is teaching as the "healed" amigdala becomes the translator betweeen the Heart and the Brain insterad of the other way round. These information are tought at university and are well researched, though they kind of rarely get picked up by media and spread, maybe because it has no pharmaceutical income? 

Well said

Submitted by Rain on

Rain's picture

Well said, Andrea. And thanks for that info - I had not heard that before, which proves your point.

LOVE you!

Thanks

Submitted by Cherie on

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I didn't know it was being taught!

Yes, they usually kind of

Submitted by glr_Andrea on

glr_Andrea's picture

Yes, they usually kind of skip it as many things that do not fit into the box, was luky enough to have a professor that was interested in Consiousness so we were able to get a bit deeper into it... until he got fired. 

Kabat-Zin was another one that even has a whole stress/pain relieve clinic in the States based upon Mindfulness meditation and has been teaching it for about 15/20 years if I'm not wrong. Even though he got amazing results even with post-surgery he's still only known in a small circle of interested beings.