Empathy.When we meditate, neuronal activity increases significantly in areas of the brain involved in empathy, that is, in the ability to put ourselves in the place of others. Specifically, scientists from Emory University used magnetic resonance imaging to study the brains of people who meditated and found that, compared to those who did not, the neurons of the dorsomedial prefrontal cortex and the inferior frontal gyrus were more active, two structures that participate in the recognition of the emotional state of the people around us.
Learning.According to an article in the magazine recentlyMindfulness, researchers from George Mason University (USA) have shown that practicing meditation before class helps university students concentrate better and retain the content taught by the teacher better, so they recommend meditating for 6 minutes before entering the classroom.
Connections.Meditation increasesNeuronal plasticityand improves coordination between brain cells, according to a recent study published in the journalPLOS Onebased on brain magnetic resonance imaging with spectroscopy, a technique that allows the measurement of chemical substances in a certain region of the brain. The authors of the work identified a significant increase in connectivity at the level of the white matter fibers, which communicate certain deep structures, such as the thalamus, with the upper left parietal cortex, the part of the brain that controls self-awareness. Furthermore, the experiments revealed that themioinositolit is increased in the posterior cingulate of the meditators. This neurochemical change could help regulate the immune response andreduce anxiety and depression, according to the researchers.
