Brain Network Hub Connectivity during Meditation

How meditation work in our brain? How brain network hubs interacts? This article identify the major brain regions and their dynamic connectivity during meditation. Brain network connectivity approaches to meditation neuroscience are currently accelerating at a rapid pace, propelled by the availability of ‘big fMRI data’, an expanding computational infrastructure, and the formation of large-scale … Read more

Top Ten Sirtuin Foods for Good Health

Scientists observed that Sirtuin foods or sirtfoods have enormous health benefits. These foods increase longevity and quality of life. Recent research demonstrated that caloric restriction along with “sirtfoods” is the elixir of long life. Researchers are in search of sirtuin activator supplements. However, there many natural foods, which can naturally and easily activate the sirtuins. In this article, we discussed top ten natural sirtun activating foods.

List of Longevity Genes – A Must Read for Longevity

Scientists are trying to pin point the genes responsible for longevity. There are about 200 genes that are directly associated with longevity. Twenty of them are very prominent. Out of these 20 longevity genes, IGF-1, FOXO3A, NF-kB, AMTP, CETP, SIRTUIN are most prominent. We think that, out of these six, SIRTUIN and FOXO families have major impact on longevity. In this article we will discuss more about these six prominent genes.

Aging has normally been thought to be due to ‘wear and tear’. However, this view has changed. The interaction between genes, metabolism, and natural variations in longevity is an enormously complex subject. We all know that genetics, environmental risks, lifestyle, and strong social bonds are the major factors that helps people to live longer. Longevity has a strong genetic component. However, this view is also gradually fading away. The genetic underpinnings of longevity are real — it’s just that they’re far richer and more complex than we anticipated. The aging process is likely the result of tens, or hundreds, or even thousands of closely intertwined genetic factors. Here is the list of longevity genes.

Effect of Meditation on Cortical Thickness of the Brain

Scientific evidence suggests that meditation alters the functional and structural plasticity of the brain. In the milestone study, Sara Lazar, et al. in 2005, demonstrated that meditation increases the cortical thickness of the brain. Since then a large number of studies, mostly with varying sample sizes are conducted to identify the relationship between meditation techniques and development of cortical thickness in different brain areas. The results have been remarkably consistent. There is increasing evidence that the insula undergoes structural refinement through meditation. Meditation stops insular cortical thinning process. Insular cortical thinning occurs due to age and depression. In this article we focus on the impact of meditation on overall cortical thickness of the brain. Advancements in developmental biology, neuroscience, and medical imaging have brought us closer than ever to understand the effect of meditation on brain.

There are several meditation methods, such as Yoga, Om meditation, Zen, mindfulness, breathing awareness, and Samatha. Specially, Om chanting and meditation has several benefits. The chanting of Om improves the somatic relaxation and the meditation on the meaning of Om increase cognitive relaxation. Special cognitive relaxation of Om meditation and somatic relaxation of Om chanting improves the cortical characteristics of the brain. Moreover, the practice of Om improve immune competence, especially in older populations who often experience a loss of immune function. Om mantra stabilizes the fight-and-flight response of the amygdala. Which improves the gyrification and cerebral characteristics.

How to Increases the Volume of the Hippocampus

Hippocampus volume loss is the most common problem among older adults. However, there are many ways that can increase the volume of the hippocampus. Scientific studies observed that yoga, aerobic exercise training is effective at reversing hippocampal volume loss in late adulthood. As we age, the ends of our chromosomes — called telomeres — become … Read more

Meditation and the Default Mode Network

Default Mode Network

Default mode network are a multilayer, hierarchical network of neurons not some isolated regions of the brain. Understanding how meditation and DMN work together is central for understanding deeper levels of meditation. Here we present a basic model of DMN and its role in meditation. The DNM is active when one is engage in internal tasks such as daydreaming, envisioning the future, retrieving memories, and thinking others’ perspectives.The DNM releases unresolved tensions in our lives. The default mode network is more active for creative people. During wakeful rest, the brain consolidates recently accumulated data, memorizing the most salient information, and essentially rehearses recently learned skills, etching them into its tissue. Normally, default mode of humans appears to be that of mind-wandering. In my earlier article I have discussed about the effect of meditation on brain structure. In this article I discussed the effect of meditation on default mode network.

Sirtuins for Restoring Youthfulness and Extending Longevity

Emerging from current research on the sirtuins there is a growing appreciation that the sirtuins are playing major roles in regulating cell proliferation, cell survival and apoptosis (programmed cell death). Sirtuins block multiple key processes in neurodegeneration. Sirtuins restore protein homeostasis by reducing accumulation of toxic proteins, improve neural plasticity by elevating transcription of genes, enhance mitochondria function by reducing oxidative stress, and suppress sustained chronic inflammation with epigenetic mechanisms. In this article we review the role sirtuin genes for restoring youthfulness and extending longevity. Telomere attrition has been shown to be accelerated by oxidative stress and inflammation. SIRT3 expression increases by exercise, fasting and caloric restriction and decreased by high-fat diet. SIRT1 genes are linked in inflammatory responses. SIRT1 can block the neuropathogenic inflammatory loops.

How to Live Longer Life to the Fullest

The science behind long, happy and healthy life is continuously emerging. The maximum lifespan of human being is about 120 years. How to increase that? How to add more life into those years? How can we preserve our youth? What cause aging? Can human bodies become immortal? These are the most fundamental questions in biology. Aging is almost universal, but the causes of aging are complex. The rate of aging also differs from person to person. Scientific evidence suggests that proper diet, regular exercise, regular learning and calorie restriction, during middle age and beyond is enormously effective to promote health and disease free life. Through discipline life, it is possible to make the rejuvenation and extend lifespan and possible to achieve stop senescence, reverse aging or at least significantly delay it.

Science of Well-Being: Measurements and Techniques

Science of wellbeing is a systematic process which tries to understand how wellbeing works. The objective of science of wellbeing is to discover and encourage the factors that allow individuals and communities to prosper. Science of wellbeing includes physical wellbeing, mental wellbeing, spiritual wellbeing and social wellbeing. Traditionally, science of wellbeing has been considered as a branch of social science. However, it is currently an interdisciplinary science that collaborates with other fields such as medicine, neuroscience, neurobiology, chemistry, psychology, genetics, behavioral science, social science and economics. Science of wellbeing is defined, measured, and represented on the foundation of established scientific techniques.

How to Increase Gray Matters in the Brain

Gray matters in the brain are directly responsible for seeing and hearing, memory, executive functions, impulse control, emotions and speech. With age gray matter in the brain decreases. However, meditation, yoga, omega-3 and many other things can increase the gray matter in your brain. In this article we focus on the techniques and methods to increase the gray matter in the brain.