We’ve already had a look at the benefits of meditation for your health and happiness, so today we’ll just have a quick look at the impacts of meditation on the brain. Considering the brain controls everything our body does, naturally there is quite a bit of cross-over between what goes on in the brain and what manifests in your mind and ultimately your body.
- Studies have shown that meditation slows down the speed at which the brain ages. One example can be found here. The study shows that regular meditator’s had a thicker cerebral cortex. This is where decision making and working memory sits within the brain. Given that memory and the ability to make clear and quick decisions are generally thought to diminish with age, meditation may be a great way to slow this process and help fight off age related brain conditions
- Last week’s blog talked about how often our minds are concentrating on something other than the present. Basically your mind wandering. Do you find it tough to get back on track after your mind has wandered for a while? Get back to the present and the task at hand? Well that kind of means that you have lost control of your brain for that time. One of the great things with meditation is that it can enable you to centre thoughts and focus on the present moment.
- Meditation can lead to changes in the brain’s hippocampus. This can improve memory similar to that mentioned earlier and learning. Therefore, those who meditate are not only able to learn new things easier, but they are able to retain that knowledge with a minimal amount of effort. Improvement in the hippocampus can also lead to a better moods and an increased sense of well-being.
- In our health benefits blog, we noted that meditation can improve your immune system. The study which looked at both immune function and brain activity showed significant increases in left sided brain activation leading to positive effects.
Through meditation we can make our brains stronger and calmer at the same time. Now that is something I’m more than happy to spend some time each day practising!
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