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| Meditation can reshape your brain activity | | | Dr Vijay Garg
Meditation is widely known for reducing stress and promoting calm, but new neuroscience research shows it can also actively reshape brain activity—potentially transforming how the brain functions at both electrical and network levels.
What the Study Found
A recent study led by neurophysiologist Annalisa Pascarella of the Italian National Research Council used high-resolution brain scans and machine learning to investigate how meditation alters brain dynamics.
Researchers recruited 12 seasoned Buddhist monks from the Thai Forest tradition—each with over 15,000 hours of meditation practice—and measured their brain activity using magnetoencephalography (MEG) while they were:
At rest
Practicing Samatha meditation (focused attention on a specific sensation like breathing)
Practicing Vipassana meditation (open awareness of thoughts and sensations)
Reaching “Brain Criticality”
The results were striking. Meditation was shown to move neural activity toward a state researchers call “brain criticality.” This is a delicate balance between neural order and chaos that may help optimize how the brain:
Processes information
Adapts to new tasks
Stores and retrieves memories
In this balanced state, brain networks are thought to be more efficient and flexible—a bit like tuning an engine to run smoothly under many conditions.
Different Meditations, Different Effects
The two meditation types produced distinct neural patterns:
Samatha promoted a stable, focused brain state, ideal for concentration.
Vipassana brought the brain closer to the criticality state, potentially enhancing overall flexibility and awareness.
Interestingly, this study found reduced gamma oscillations—a type of high-frequency brain activity often linked with processing external stimuli—suggesting meditation may shift focus from the outside world inward.
How Experience Changes the Brain
Experienced meditators showed smaller differences in brain activity between meditation and rest, suggesting that with practice, the meditative state and restful brain dynamics may begin to resemble one another. This hints that regular meditation rewires baseline brain function, not just fleeting brain states during meditation.
Broader Implications of Meditation and the Brain
This study fits into a broader body of research showing meditation’s effects on brain activity and structure:
Neural Structure and Function
Meditation is associated with increased gray matter volume and cortical thickness in regions tied to memory, attention, and emotional regulation.
Some deep EEG studies have found changes in amygdala and hippocampus activity, suggesting meditation could influence emotional processing and memory networks.
Connectivity and Neuroplasticity
Regular practice appears to strengthen functional connections between key brain regions and can reduce stress-related brain activity over time.
Not a Magic Cure
While the new study offers compelling evidence that meditation reshapes brain activity, researchers caution that the brain changes linked to meditation are still not fully understood, and meditation is not a simple or guaranteed path to mental well-being for everyone.
Some people report negative experiences like anxiety or emotional discomfort during intensive meditation practice, highlighting the need for balanced scientific inquiry.
In Summary
Meditation doesn’t just relax the mind—it can reshape the dynamics of the brain itself, helping neural networks operate more efficiently and possibly enhancing focus, awareness, and emotional balance. As neuroscience tools become more advanced, our understanding of meditation’s effects on the human brain continues to grow.
Dr Vijay Garg Retired Principal Educational columnist Eminent Educationist street kour Chand MHR Malout Punjab |
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