Mindfulness and the Brain: What Does Research and Neuroscience Say?

Research indicates that mindfulness can help with the following:

• It impacts human functioning.
• It improves the quality of attention.
• It affects interpersonal behaviour.
• It provides greater empathy and compassion.
• Optimization of mental health.
• Positive impact on the brain and immune system.
• It assists with chronic pain.
• It helps overcome insomnia.
• It helps with caregiver burnout.

Neuroplasticity means the brain is malleable and able to restructure itself by forming new neural connections.

• Meditation might slow down or prevent forgetfulness related to age. Research found people who meditated in their 40s and 50's had the same amount of grey matter as those in their 20's and 30's.
• Following 8 weeks of mindfulness exercises, brain volume increased in 4 regions of the brain, including the hippocampus (responsible for the regulation of emotions, learning and memory) and the temporoparietal junction (responsible for empathy and compassion.)

One meta-analysis found 8 unique regions of the brain consistently changed in people experienced in meditation. These are:

• Rostrolateral prefrontal cortex
• Sensory cortices
• Insular cortex
• Hippocampus
• Anterior cingulate cortex
• Mid-cingulate cortex
• Superior longitudinal fasciculus
• Corpus callosum

Consistent changes were noticed as follows:

• Changes in brain density
• Changes in thickness of brain tissue
• Increase in neurons, fibres, and glia
• Changes in cortical surface area
• Changes in white matter fibre density

Some studies compared mindfulness therapies to medication.

• One study found no difference between participants of mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) and anti-depressant medication. This suggests that MBCT is a reasonable alternative to standard medicine.
• Research also showed that combining medication and psychotherapy often results in better outcomes than focusing on one alone.

• Research done on mindfulness parenting can be helpful with persons with autism, where parents apply the skills of mindfulness to the child-parent interaction, including attentive listening, non-judgmental acceptance of the self and the child, and self-regulation.
• Studies found mindfulness interventions can minimize the struggles related to behaviour and mood regulation.
• Using mindfulness, people with autism can learn to find a balance between sensing and feeling that allows for a calmer response.

While medication is often used to treat ADHD, its effects are usually short-term. The medicine also has side effects.

In a randomised controlled trial, researchers found that mindfulness instruction is a good choice for young people with ADHD. The study is focused on measures of attention, hyperactivity and impulsivity.

1. Lutz, Dunne & Davidson (2008) found mindfulness impacts the amygdala.
2. Goldin & Gross (2010) found that the hippocampus was more active after mindfulness training.
3. Carson, J. et al. (2004) found a correlation between mindfulness and healthier relationships.
4. Chiesa & Serretti (2010) found the prefrontal cortex became more active following mindfulness training.
5. A 2005 study found thicker cortical regions related to attention and sensory processing in meditation practitioners.
6. Lazar et al. (2005) found meditation prevents cortical thinning.
7. Beddoe & Murphy (2004). Mindfulness encourages empathy.