Meditation and the 25 year old brain (in 50 year olds)
It should come as no shock to anyone remotely interested in the mindfulness movement that an increasing body of research documents that activities such as meditation and yoga increase quality of life by decreasing stress, depression, anxiety, even reducing pain, inflammation and insomnia. Some time ago a study , widely unreported in this country, that individuals with a meditation practice over 7 years showed significantly more brain mass versus a control group of non-meditators. The study reported those with strong meditation backgrounds had demonstrated growth in several areas of the brain, including the sensory and auditory cortex. This makes sense to those that meditate since meditation is not the total clearing of the mind as popular culture would have one believe. Meditation is the act of slowing down, becoming aware of each thought and each physical sensation. Noticing for example how your back feels, how deep each breath is, as well as, what is that sound com...