Meditation Transforms: Grey Layer's Evolution

There are several types of changes that occur in the grey matter of the brain from meditation. These changes include increased grey matter volume, increased cortical thickness, and increased grey matter density.

Increased grey matter in the hippocampus

The hippocampus is a part of the brain that is associated with learning and memory, emotion regulation, and self-referential processing. It is also critical for memory and involved in the modulation of emotional control.

Meditation and Increased Grey Matter in the Hippocampus

Benefits of Increased Grey Matter in the Hippocampus

The increase in grey matter in the hippocampus may be associated with improved learning and memory, as well as enhanced emotion regulation. It may also contribute to the positive effects of meditation on mental and physical health, including stress reduction and improved psychological well-being.

Factors Influencing Grey Matter Changes

It is important to note that the amount of meditation practice may influence the extent of grey matter changes. Additionally, individual differences, such as pre-existing brain structures and personality traits, may also play a role in the structural plasticity induced by meditation.

Increased grey matter in the insula

The insula is also involved in the regulation of emotion and is a key region in the pathophysiology of depression.

Increased grey matter in the anterior cingulate cortex

The anterior cingulate cortex is a brain region that plays a crucial role in various cognitive functions, including attention allocation, conflict monitoring, and error detection. It is also involved in the regulation of emotions and the processing of reward and punishment.

Meditation practices, such as mindfulness meditation and Rajyoga meditation, have been found to increase grey matter volume in the anterior cingulate cortex. These practices are associated with enhanced cognitive and emotional regulation, improved attention, and increased subjective happiness.

The increase in grey matter volume in the anterior cingulate cortex may be due to the repeated activation of this brain region during meditation, leading to structural changes through synaptic plasticity. The anterior cingulate cortex is part of the reward circuit in the brain, and its activation is associated with positive emotions and pleasure.

Overall, the findings suggest that meditation practices can induce structural changes in the anterior cingulate cortex, which may contribute to improved cognitive and emotional functioning, as well as increased subjective happiness.

Increased grey matter in the temporo-parietal junction

The temporo-parietal junction is activated when we try to understand the feelings and thoughts of others or show empathy for others. These are important capacities for an enriched emotional and social life that facilitates the emotions of love and compassion.

Altruism has also been shown to be linearly correlated with grey matter volume in the temporo-parietal junction.

Increased grey matter in the cerebellum

The cerebellum is a major component of the central nervous system, consisting of neuronal cell bodies, neuropil, glial cells, synapses, and capillaries. It is present in the brain, brainstem, and cerebellum, and throughout the spinal cord.

A study by Hernández et al. (2016) found that long-term practitioners of SYM showed larger grey matter volume in the cerebellum compared to non-meditators. The study included 23 experienced practitioners of SYM and 23 non-meditators, matched on age, gender, and education level. The results showed that the SYM group had larger grey matter volume in the cerebellum, as well as in other regions such as the ventromedial orbitofrontal cortex, the insula, and the inferior temporal lobe.

Another study by Hölzel et al. (2011) also found increases in grey matter concentration in the cerebellum after an eight-week Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) program. The study included 16 healthy, meditation-naive participants and compared them to a wait-list control group of 17 individuals. The results showed that the MBSR group had increases in grey matter concentration in the cerebellum, posterior cingulate cortex, and temporo-parietal junction.

These findings suggest that long-term meditation practices, such as SYM and MBSR, may lead to increases in grey matter volume in the cerebellum. However, more research is needed to fully understand the effects of meditation on the cerebellum and its potential benefits.

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