Mindfulness and meditation are the practices of putting our attention where we want it, and of cultivating greater awareness of our physical body sensations, and of the nature of our thoughts and emotions. A recent review article on the neurobiology of meditation discusses how meditation causes changes in the brain both in the moment a person is meditating, as well as long-lasting changes in the physical structure of the brain as a result of the strengthening of neural connections in specific areas. Unsurprisingly, these changes occur in the areas of the brain that relate to attention and memory, interoception (the process of looking inwards at our internal states and understanding them), sensory processing, and self-regulation (exerting control over our emotions and behaviors).
The review article further explains that practices of mindfulness and meditation have molecular effects on the body. These practices lead to increases in dopamine, a neurotransmitter that triggers motivation and feelings of pleasure, and melatonin, which plays an important role in regulating sleep. Mindfulness meditation is also associated with modulated levels of seratonin, a neurotransmitter that, among a number of things, helps to regulate mood and emotion. The practices are also associated with decreased levels of the stress hormones cortisol and norepinephrine. Together, these molecular changes can have a big impact on helping us feel calmer and less stressed, sleep better, and have improved physical health.
Keryn Breiterman-Loader
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