June 11, 2012

expert reaction to study of mindfulness meditation and white matter structure in the brain

Researchers writing in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences suggested that a form of mindfulness meditation might be used to prevent or treat some mental conditions, after 4 weeks of participation in the technique induced changes in white matter in a brain region implicated in self-regulation.

Dr Thorsten Barnhofer, Senior Lecturer in Clinical Psychology, Institute of Psychiatry, King’s College London, said:

“We have seen evidence from a number of studies showing significant brain changes following meditation training. What is remarkable about these findings is that they demonstrate mechanisms of change in connective fibres in the brain, particularly in areas that are crucial for self-regulation, and that these changes were visible after only a few hours of training. This is in line with the increasing trend of using mindfulness meditation in the treatment and prevention of depression and other emotional disorders.”

Dr Elena Antonova, Research Fellow specialising in the neuroscience of mindfulness and well-being, Institute of Psychiatry, King’s College London, said:

“The findings of this study are potentially good news for all of us. If as little as 11 hours of mindfulness training makes the brain wiring more prolific and better insulated, then simply by being mindful, which is accessible to anyone at any time, we might enjoy a lifetime of mental clarity and emotional stability.”

Dr Eva Cyhlarova, Head of Research at the Mental Health Foundation, said:

“This study is another example of brain neuroplasticity in adulthood and how with some simple techniques we can affect its structure as well as its function. Furthermore, these changes appear to lead to improvements in mood, which is consistent with self-regulation being a core feature of many mental health problems.

“The study had a relatively short follow-up period, so it would be interesting to further examine the effect of the training over a longer period of time.

“If such a simple and cheap method of training shows positive results, there is hope for more people with mental health problems to be able to access support through affordable interventions.”

‘Mechanisms of white matter changes induced by meditation’ by Tang, Y. et al., published in PNAS on Monday 11th June.