While there are many ways to keep your brain strong and healthy, Harvard psychology professor Sara Lazar focuses on a pretty relaxing way to keep the brain sharp– Meditation.
Harvard conducted an 8-week Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) Program study exploring the effects of a 30-minute, daily meditation routine.
The 16 participants study was conducted at Massachusetts General Hospital and included guided meditation audios, sensation and feeling awareness.
The researchers took an MRI of each participant two weeks prior to the study, and immediately after the study.
The MRIs showed the brain’s hippocampus had increased amounts of grey-matter density, which is vital for learning, memory, self-awareness and compassion.
The MRIs also showed the brain’s amygdala had decreased amounts of grey-matter density, connecting with the participants’ reported reduced stress.