The brain is the central intelligence of the body, the CEO. And meditation can change the function of the brain in an enduring way. It is scientifically proved that regular Meditation practice offers many health benefits, from reduced stress and lower blood pressure and cholesterol levels to greater empathy and enhanced creativity. Meditation not only relaxes and uplifts you, but actually grows and changes your brain for the better life style. Weather you follow Transcendental Meditation (TM), Zen, and other Eastern meditation techniques, meditation is going work for sure. Technology is changing very fast and there has been significant research going on about brain and meditation. Scientist has developed many brain-mapping systems such as electroencephalographs (EEGs) and brain mapping and imaging using fMRI (functional magnetic resonance imaging) that can read brainwaves and can measure hoe it changes during the meditation.
As I mentioned in the first post there are 4 states of mind. Beta (Full Conscious Awareness) state where brain waves oscillate at 14 to 30 cycles per second. Alpha State in this brain waves oscillate at 8 and 13 cycles per second which means body is relaxing and mind is active. Theta State where brain waves oscillate at 4 to 7 cycles per second. And Delta State where brain waves oscillate at less than 4 cycles per second. (Introduction to Meditation – brainwaves). Mediation decreases beta state brainwaves which are associated with thinking and increases alpha, delta, and gamma state of brainwaves which are associated with deep relaxation and higher mental activity. It also enhances synchronization that is, simultaneous operation of the right and left hemispheres of the brain which positively correlates with creativity. Meditation increases brainwave activity in the area of positive emotions which makes you feel happier, less anxious, and more engaged in your work. and to do all these things you don’t have to be a monk to reap the mood-altering benefits of meditation, you cab achieve this with a few months of meditation practice.
Meditation Calms the Brain. Thoughts actually produce waves that are registered in the brain as electrical activity. If our thoughts are excessive, then this electrical activity becomes excessive and it is a disturbance to the brain. We feel this unpleasantness and tension in the mind and call it stress. Meditation greatly reduces the amount of electrical activity in the brain. The brain becomes calm and we can feel this in the mind as a pleasant peacefulness. In meditation the brain is given a rest, which allows it to recuperate and rejuvenate. It makes brain more attentive and helps mind to release the thoughts that clutter it helps the brain to attend to other happenings in your life. Neuroscience studies show that meditation has a balancing and harmonising effect on the right and left hemispheres of the brain. Our left hemisphere is responsible for thinking. It is the logical, analytical side of the brain. The right side is responsible for our emotions. Meditation allows us to have the correct balance of logical, analytical thought and emotions. Meditation creates new pathways for the mind, the brain, and even the heart.