Meditation linked to brain changes

Posted on Sat, 7 Apr 12

A new study has found evidence of changes in the brain that may be responsible for the emotional changes seen in people who meditate, such as introspection, awareness and compassion.

A study of 100 people who meditate using brain imaging was able to find a relationship between a pattern in the brain called “cortical gyrification.” It is hard to establish a cause and effect but people who had been mediating the longest had the highest level of cortical gyrification, which lends support to the idea that meditation may have been responsible. 

Cortical gyrification is associated with greater brain plasticity (the ability of your brain to change and repair over time) and may in turn be linked to better cognitive and behavioral health.

Reference:

Luders E, Kurth F, Mayer EA, Toga AW, Narr KL, Gaser C. The unique brain anatomy of meditation practitioners: alterations in cortical gyrification. Front  Hum Neurosci. 2012;6:34.