And somebody throw a blanket over the Maharishi. His giggling is getting on my nerves....

From Science Daily 7/14/11:
Is Meditation the Push-Up for the Brain? Study Shows Practice May Have Potential to Change Brain's Physical Structure

....Now, a follow-up study suggests that people who meditate also have stronger connections between brain regions and show less age-related brain atrophy. Having stronger connections influences the ability to rapidly relay electrical signals in the brain. And significantly, these effects are evident throughout the entire brain, not just in specific areas......

...."Our results suggest that long-term meditators have white-matter fibers that are either more numerous, more dense or more insulated throughout the brain," Luders said. "We also found that the normal age-related decline of white-matter tissue is considerably reduced in active meditation practitioners.".....

...."Results showed pronounced structural connectivity in meditators throughout the entire brain's pathways. The greatest differences between the two groups were seen within the corticospinal tract (a collection of axons that travel between the cerebral cortex of the brain and the spinal cord); the superior longitudinal fasciculus (long bi-directional bundles of neurons connecting the front and the back of the cerebrum); and the uncinate fasciculus (white matter that connects parts of the limbic system, such as the hippocampus and amygdala, with the frontal cortex)"....

Despite everything that so many of us have been told, we can change our brain. It may not be obvious just how to do it, but don't let anyone tell you that it can't be done.

I worked for a while with stroke victims, they were constantly told that the brain can repair itself, and those with brain damage from bleeds are also told this. Certainly the brain bleeds clear themselves given time. In these cases too it was evident that the more they did the better they got. Many of them had quite severe damage, specialist computer games were used to challenge them mentally, especially if they had speech issues, they were also used to evaluate where improvements were made. Exercise is a given anyway, the more you do etc..... While this does not neccessarily give back full functioning it gives back a lot. I remember in particular a very depressed 29 year old computer science lecturer who was very badly impaired. Once his depression was dealt with he was able to get on with the business of repairing his brain, and eventually returned to his job. It was impressive to see, even his physios were amazed.

Meditation is something else, when they have looked at long term practitioners there have been some things that have surprised researchers. It is not a cure all, there are many misconceptions about what exactly is a meditative state, and is dependent upon commitment from the individual.

Neuro-protective is something that is often discussed, neuro-recuperative almost never......

Lindy

Matthieu Ricard is a former neurobiologist who is now a Buddhist monk. He has some very interesting things to say on how meditation has been shown to affect the brain. He has a number of lectures online and on youtube that are worth checking out if this topic is of interest.


Tremorgrrrl