Effects of Mindfulness Meditation on the Brain

Mindfulness meditation affect the white matter as well as gray matter in the brain. Researchers observed that eight weeks of mindfulness meditation can actually change the structure of the brain. To get the benefits, you just need to practice 10 to 40 minutes of mindfulness meditation a day at home or office. Mindfulness meditation is … Read more

How to increase prefrontal cortex activity

Prefrontal cortex (PFC) is responsible for many “higher-order” functions like planning, decision-making, learning, concentration, goal-setting, emotion-control, creativity, self-observation, prioritizing, social interaction, and behavior control. For effective cognitive function control and happiness, exercises for prefrontal cortex are very important. Here, I discuss seven secrets to increase prefrontal cortex activity and improve our cognitive ability. Location of … Read more

Meditation Neuroscience and Transcendental Experience

Transcendental experience during yoga and meditation is well known for centuries. Here we discussed the safe and scientific process of transcendental experience. We also discussed neuroscience of transcendental experience during meditation. How to achieve transcendental experience? What are the risks in transcendental experience? Is it possible to transcend the limits of the material universe and entered into the realm of infinite? What are the brain dynamics and brain network connectivity during during transcendental experience? These are the few questions that I tried to explain in this article. True transcendental experience increases gray matter in the brain. It activates the prefrontal cortex—the newest part of the human brain. It creates many new pathways in the brain. The right insular cortex in the brain is activated by true transcendental experience. The insular cortex involved in compassion. moral decision making and pain control. The cortical thickness of the brain increases. Reduces the amyagdal activity in the brain.

Meditation and Rich-Club Connectivity Hubs

Recent scientific studies on meditation demonstrated that rich club brain network have a key role to play in making global communication and information integration during meditation. The human brain is a complex network of interlinked regions. Scientific studies on meditation demonstrated that the anatomical network of the human brain shows a “rich-club” organization. The aim … 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.

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.

Brain Fitness with Yoga and Meditation

Yoga and meditation improves brain fitness at four levels. First, it helps to develop new stem cells in the hippocampus; second, it improves the optimal blood flow in the brain, which enhances the cerebral metabolism; third, it encourages nerve cells to bind to one another; and fourth, it enhances the production of BDNF which creates new neural pathways in the brain. It is observed that regular systematic mental challenge by novel stimuli increases production and inter-connectivity of neurons and nerve growth factor. It also prevents cell death and loss of connections between neurons. The brain is capable of producing new brain cells at any age. Hence considerable memory loss is not an obvious result of aging. But just as it is with muscle strength, you have to use it or lose it. Our lifestyle, health habits, and daily activities have a huge impact on the health of our brain. Independent of our age, there are several ways through which we can improve our cognitive skills, prevent memory loss, and protect our grey matter. Yoga influences the brain on numerous ways. Yoga postures releases a plethora of hormones, all of which participate in aiding and providing a nourishing environment for the growth of brain cells. Most yoga postures increases heart rate, which pumps more oxygen to the brain.