Meditation has been known to improve physical and mental health by reducing stress, lowering blood pressure, and enhancing mood. Recent studies by neuroscientists have focused on the changes in brain structure associated with meditation. Through meditation, neural circuits are rewired, with weaker connections pruned away and stronger connections reinforced. Mindfulness meditation, which involves maintaining attention on present thoughts and sensations, has been the subject of many studies. These studies have provided enough evidence to suggest that the observed changes in the brain are not coincidental. Expert meditators and Buddhist monks exhibit robust connections between different brain regions, promoting synchronized communication. Meditation also leads to a wrinkly cortex, the outer layer of the brain responsible for sophisticated mental abilities like abstract thought and introspection. It has been found to increase the volume and density of the hippocampus, a crucial area for memory. Moreover, meditation counteracts the shrinking of attention-sustaining brain regions with age. Even short daily meditation sessions of 12 to 20 minutes can enhance attention, working memory, and cognitive performance.
Vocabulary:
• Blood pressure: The force of blood against the walls of the blood vessels.
• Mood: A person's emotional state or overall feeling.
• Thoughts: Ideas or mental processes.
• Sensations: Physical feelings or experiences.
• Memory: The ability to retain and recall information.
Source: Scientific American