The burgeoning field of mindfulness, neuroscience and psychotherapy just never gets old to me. I am on a panel with Ron Siegel, PsyD, author of The Mindfulness Solution and Ruth Buczynski, PhD, president of the National Institute for the Clinical Application of Behavioral Medicine (NICABM) talking about a recent series that explored the question, Can Mindfulness Really Rewire the Brain? The series is free to listen to.
The series includes Dan Siegel, Rick Hanson, Tara Brach, Sara Lazar and Ron Siegel on the current state of affairs of mindfulness and neuroscience. The topics included the most current neuroscience research, how we can use it with trauma, chronic pain, depression, shame and even its potential benefits for aging.
The actual science that’s continuing to come out about mindfulness and its neurological benefits is incredibly motivating.
Did you know that mindfulness practice is showing that we can grow the area of our brain that’s responsible for learning and memory (the hippocampus)? So there’ll be less of the, “Honey, did you remember where I put my keys?”
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David
6:22 am on
October 11th, 2011Do you know, even my cat learns and grows in maturity.
David
9:02 am on
October 11th, 2011By maturity, I mean — she learns new ways of how to deal with me. Now that is maturity!
This is a fascinating blog with a background in psychiatry and my interest in spirituality and mindfulness. I never knew that mindfulness had all these effects in these specific parts of the brain. I completely believe we can change our brain by the way we think. Neuroplasticity is amazing. Like a dirt road, if we go over a path over and over, it becomes more distinct. In the same way, I believe our neuronal pathways work. Amazing!
I have been practising mindfulness meditation on daily basis for many years. I did notice the positive effects that this practice has on my mental health, such as stress reduction as well as being able to perceive things clearer. I find that I am better able in being responsive to my situation rather than being reactive and impulsive.
dpmol
9:26 am on
October 12th, 2011Hi,
Do you have references for the studies you list?
Thanks.
D. S.
11:08 am on
October 12th, 2011While there is indeed some promising evidence on how meditation affects the brain, the blanket, unqualified statements of what this evidence shows are, along with the total lack of references, misleading. Presenting the actual evidence, along with its current limitations, would be far more honest and helpful.
All the references of the studies are given in the series link that was mentioned above, so these are not blanket, unqualified statements they are based on legitimate research by some of the most esteemed researchers in the field including Sara Lazar, MD, Richie Davidson, among others. Best to check it out for yourself, enjoy.
Paul
3:56 pm on
October 12th, 2011To be fair, I think that dpmol and D.S. were asking for links to peer reviewed, scientific research backing up the claims. The links you provided go to web pages advertising books and lectures available for a fee. Don’t get me wrong, I recognize how mindfulness can be extremely useful in therapy and other contexts (I use it in DBT), but some of these claims seem to be a bit of a reach given the current evidence.
Yes, it’s a fair question:
1) Hippocampus growth (known for learning, memory and – http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S092549271000288X
2) Affect labeling, Reduction in amygdala – http://www.scn.ucla.edu/pdf/Creswell2007.pdf
3) Lower depression scores & brain – http://scan.oxfordjournals.org/content/2/4/313.short & http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20141299
4) empathy and compassion correlates – increase in tempoparietal junction (responsible for seeing another person’s view)- http://www.psyn-journal.com/article/S0925-4927(10)00288-X/abstract
There is of course, so much more to uncover here, but these studies show real changes in the brain, are suggestive, exciting and motivating about the changes we can make.
buddhablessd
6:24 pm on
October 12th, 2011Very interesting, to put into words, what meditation does for me psychologically. I have no doubt since I started a few yrs. back it changed my life conpletely. But the lord led me to it from recovery, and I am learning to be open minded and go with it. His will and ways are beyond understanding, and my surrendering to them and following are my only desire. b-blessed
Carol Louise Plummer
7:08 pm on
October 12th, 2011Am I confused? The “free” series led to an ad for an expensive tele course. Any thoughts?
Hi Carol,
The series creator made all the sessions 100% free to listen to live. If you want to get the entire package then there’s a cost, but the actual calls when they come out are free as I understand it.
Mindfulness is basically a psychoanalytical approach to the treatment of mood disorder on the belief that the brain can “learn” new neural connection. This flies in the face of huge amount of data that show that mood disorders are mainly caused by underlying biochemical abnormalities, tat need to be treated before the brain can “learn” new connections.
A different approach and perhaps a far more simple approach is to treat these biochemical abnormalities by nutritional means. Such as:
Depression is a Nutritional Disorder at:
http://www.hypoglycemia.asn.au/articles/depression_disorder.html
Gretta
5:48 am on
October 15th, 2011I’m doing a MA in Art Therapy & embarking on my thesis. As a very mature student, this all new to me. I’m very interested in the effects our minds have on our wellbeing (mental, physical, spiritual) and lives in general.
Would you say mindfulness is a form of (self) hypnosis?
Are there academic studies relating to art therapy and mindfulness?
Absolutely. And there are amazing filmmakers and musicians who create films and music that facilitate, enhance and open a space for mindfulness as well.
I too support the intersection of mindfulness and neurobiology. As a counseling psychologist I’ve witnessed astounding evidence across populations and clinical issues and discuss how it’s shaped my approach to psychotherapy in my book: Harriett’s Walk: How To Make Wiser Choices For A Better Life. The book’s resounding message is that mindfulness changes the way the brain operates. I look forward to exploring your website.
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