Improve Brain Processing of Awareness and Emotions with Mindfulness By John M. de Castro, Ph.D. “Evidence suggests that particular areas of the brain may either shrink or grow in response to regular mindfulness practice.” – Meera Joshi There has accumulated a large amount of research demonstrating that meditation practice has significant benefits for psychological, physical, […]
Change the Brain to Reduce Chronic Pain with Mindfulness By John M. de Castro, Ph.D. “While many experts recommend mindfulness-based practices to manage pain, the goal of those practices is typically not to remove pain entirely, but to change your relationship with it so that you are able to experience relief and healing […]
Treat Depression with Tai Chi By John M. de Castro, Ph.D. “A 12-week program of instruction and practice of the Chinese martial art tai chi led to significantly reduced symptoms of depression in Chinese Americans not receiving any other treatments.” – Science Daily Clinically diagnosed depression is the most common mental illness, […]
Structural and Functional Changes in the Brain Produced by Meditation Training By John M. de Castro, Ph.D. “Measurable changes in brain regions associated with memory, sense of self, empathy, and stress start to appear in subjects who practice mindfulness meditation for only eight weeks.” – Deepak Chopra There has accumulated a large […]
Mindfulness is Associated with Improved Functional Connectivity in the Brain 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 The nervous system is a dynamic entity, constantly changing and adapting […]
Improve Caregiver Psychological Health by Changing the Brain Response with Mindfulness By John M. de Castro, Ph.D. “We are set up for short-term stress, but caregiving is long-term stress. Mindfulness is basically coming back into the present moment, so it works to inhibit the stress response. Most of us run around listening to […]
Religion and Spirituality are Associated with Brain Difference is Individuals At-Risk for Major Depression By John M. de Castro, Ph.D. “There are two possible explanations. One is that a thicker cortex is more associated with being interested in spiritual questions, the connectedness of people, etc and is simultaneously protective against depression. The other […]
Eye Movements Reveal Mind Wandering During Meditation By John M. de Castro, Ph.D. “Distractions in the mind translate to micro movements in the eyes or eyelids, and vice-versa. Stillness of eyes brings stillness of mind, and vice-versa.” – Giovanni We spend a tremendous amount of waking time with our minds wandering and […]
Alter the Brain for Improved Memory with Aging with Tai Chi By John M. de Castro, Ph.D. “our brain physiology and memory can be changed with Tai Chi. . . Brain scans show neural changes in the Tai Chi group associated with better memory, especially in cognitive areas associated with spatial memory.” – […]
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 […]