By now, I am sure you have you been hearing how you should meditate. Meditation has become a recommendation for a variety of things, especially in the last five years or so. Meditation is not a new phenomenon. In fact, it has been a practice for over 2500 years. It was not until scientific studies started showing the effects meditation has, have people in the Western part of the world started to believe the benefits. The studies being published are giving answers to what is happening when we have a meditation practice. This meditation minute is going to look at the effects a meditation practice has on the brain.
I would like to first state that the brain is different from our mind. Our mind is something that has all the functionality of the brain but is not an organ of its own. I like to think of it as the human “cloud.” However, the brain is a living breathing changing organ.
In the last decade, research has and continues to study the effects of meditation on the brain. Research is showing meditation is changing the neuroplasticity of the brain. I know - the what? Neuroplasticity is the brain's ability to continuously adapt based on its experiences. This continuous change impacts structure and function as experience changes the neurons and synapses. This is often found when there has been trauma or repeated experiences.
Results from studies are also showing meditation is activating brain regions associated with the expression of positive emotions versus the region associated with the expression of difficulty and disturbing emotions such as fear or sadness.
Repeated meditation activates the neuroplasticity of the brain structure and function for positive expressive emotions, allowing them to be higher.
Repeated meditation activates the neuroplasticity of the brain structure and function for positive expressive emotions, allowing them to be higher. This is why people who meditate appear calm and positive. Their brains are literally structured to function that way. Over time anyone is capable of this brain change.
Other research studies are also showing grey matter of the brain growing over some time in experienced meditators. Having grey matter growth aids in the aging of the brain. This means the brain stays younger as you age!
Research of meditation and its physical effects is still in the infancy stages. However, there has been no negative physical effects shown in the research thus far. Although a lot of the research is being done on experienced meditators, it is looking at beginners as well. If you start now, meditation can only benefit you physically, especially in your brain as you age.
There is no better time to start a meditation practice than now.
A word of caution, if someone has experienced trauma or is undergoing treatment for mental health, I caution jumping into a mediation practice without the guidance of a professional. I hope this has answered a little of why you should meditate.
