Impact of Meditation on Brain Function

Abstract

Meditation can be defined as a collection of mental training techniques aimed at regulating cognition, emotions, and the self. Rooted in spirituality, these practices take many forms in a variety of religions for some, or music and connection with nature for others. Western medical communities have begun to take a deeper look at this ancient phenomenon and have found it has several benefits, including the improvement of neuroplasticity, mental health, multifactorial diseases, and even age-related neurodegeneration. Specifically, Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) has shown positive physical changes and introduced the idea of the Brain Theory of Meditation (BTM). This theory suggests that, through meditation, individuals can surpass previously assumed limitations of the human brain, increasing a multitude of cognitive functions. This change in physiology introduces a new field of discovery that calls for a reexamination of the inner workings of spirituality and health and what the potential for the human mind truly is.