Long-term meditation is associated with increased gray matter density in the brain stem

Abstract

Extensive practice involving sustained attention can lead to changes in brain structure. Here, we report evidence of structural differences in the lower brainstem of participants engaged in the long-term practice of meditation. Using magnetic resonance imaging, we observed higher gray matter density in lower brain stem regions of experienced meditators compared with age-matched nonmeditators. Our findings show that long-term practitioners of meditation have structural differences in brainstem regions concerned with cardiorespiratory control. This could account for some of the cardiorespiratory parasympathetic effects and traits, as well as the cognitive, emotional, and immunoreactive impact reported in several studies of different meditation practices.

Meditation Experience Associated with Structural Neuroplasticity

“…[3] While the first study to find evidence of meditation's relation with neuroplasticity was located in the cerebral cortex, another study found evidence of increased gray matter density in the brain stem associated with meditation. [6] The study hypothesized that because mediation required extensive breathing techniques and respiration control, the brainstem, which controls basic autonomic functions, should have experienced structural neuroplasticity. Results indicated not increased volume, but increased density of gray matter in the medulla oblongata between experienced meditators and controls.…”

Leveraging Neuroscience and Education to Prevent Youth Aggression and Violence

“…Additional studies have shown changes in the right OFC, right thalamus (part of the limbic system relays information to the cortex and regulates awareness and alertness), left interior temporal gyrus (associated with visual processing), as well as the right hippocampus (Luders, Toga, Lepore, & Gaser, 2009) for long-term meditation 5 practitioners. Others have discovered increased density in the lower brain stem region among long-term meditators (Vestergaard-Poulsen et al, 2009). While others have shown increases in a large region of right anterior insula, the inferior occipito-temporal visual cortex, right middle and superior frontal sulci (folds in the front and mid cortex), left superior temporal gyrus, and a small region in the central sulcus (a fold behind the frontal cortex) (Lazar, 2005).…”

Mindfulness training for interpreting students

“…Observable changes in behavior are seen in the structure of the brain both in expert meditators and individuals that have undergone a several week training period. Changes are related to the amount of grey or white brain matter density and can be located in areas responsible for self-regulation and sensory processing among others (Lutz et al 2004;Lazar et al, 2005;Holzel 2008, Baerentsen et al 2009Cahn et al, 20010;Vestergaard-Poulsen, 2009;Tang, Lu, Geng, Stein, Yang & Posner, 2010;Luders, Clark, Narr & Toga, 2011;Hölzel, B. K.;Vangel, M.;Congleton, C.;Yerramsetti, S. M.;Gard, T.;& Lazar, S. W. 2011).…”