Reduce Age-Related Decline in the Brain with Mindfulness By John M. de Castro, Ph.D. “Long-term engagement in mindfulness meditation may enhance cognitive performance in older adults, and that with persistent practice, these benefits may be sustained. That’s great news for the millions of aging adults working to combat the negative effects of aging […]
Change Brain Connectivity for Better Attention and Thinking with Mindfulness By John M. de Castro, Ph.D. “mindfulness meditation training increases resting state connectivity between top-down executive control regions, highlighting an important mechanism through which it reduces stress levels.” – Daniel Reed There has accumulated a large amount of research demonstrating that mindfulness has significant […]
Open Monitoring and Focused Meditation Alter Different Brain Systems By John M. de Castro, Ph.D. “…In focused attention or concentration meditation, you direct your attention to a chosen object, such as the sensation of the breath entering and leaving your nostrils, and you keep your attention focused on that object from moment to […]
Improve Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) with Mindfulness By John M. de Castro, Ph.D. “Overall, there is a lot of evidence supporting mindfulness as a treatment approach for adults with PTSD, and a recent burgeoning literature corroborating positive neurological changes is following suit.” – Jennifer Wolkin Experiencing trauma is quite common. It has […]
Drugs Produce Loss of Self Like Spiritual Awakening By John M. de Castro, Ph.D. “People tripping on psilocybin can experience paranoia or a complete loss of subjective self-identity, known as ego dissolution” – Annamarya Scaccia Psychedelic substances have been used almost since the beginning of recorded history to alter consciousness and produce […]
Alter Brain Networks and Cognitive Ability with Tai Chi By John M. de Castro, Ph.D. ” Another great benefit of Tai Chi is that it’s accessible to people of all ages and fitness abilities. It’s the focus on the subtle movements that exercise the brain and boost cognitive abilities.” – Karl Romain […]
Meditation Practice Alters Brain Networks in the Elderly By John M. de Castro, Ph.D. “A growing body of research supports the immediate benefits of meditation, such as reduced stress and anxiety levels, lower blood pressure, and enhanced happiness. Studies on mindfulness interventions show these effects are common in as few as eight weeks. […]
Change the Genes and the Brain for the Better with Mindfulness By John M. de Castro, Ph.D. “Scientists looked at how mindfulness practice affected genetic differences between one group of expert meditators compared with a control group of untrained meditators. “most interestingly, the changes were observed in genes that are the current targets of […]
Improve Neural Regulation of Negative Emotions with Mindfulness By John M. de Castro, Ph.D. “Meditation might help depression, stress and anxiety but it’s not a ‘positive thinking’ tool that pretends everything is fine when it isn’t. It’s a way of being able to be with things as they are, in pain or in […]
By John M. de Castro, Ph.D. “Our minds wander, on average 50 percent of the time. The exact rate varies enormously. . . . Noticing where your mind has gone – checking your twitter feed instead of working on that report – gives you the chance for a second thought: “my mind has […]