Improve the Brain’s Attentional Networks with Mindfulness By John M. de Castro, Ph.D. “MBSR and RR body scans both induced a common increased functional connectivity between the brain’s ventromedial prefrontal cortex, which plays a role in attention.” – GORAMA The nervous system is a dynamic entity, constantly changing and adapting to the […]
Improve Chronic Low Back Pain in Low Income Patients with Yoga By John M. de Castro, Ph.D. “Yoga’s focus on balance and steadiness encourages your body to develop defenses against the causes of back pain, which include weak abdominal and pelvic muscles, as well lack of flexibility in the hips. When you strengthen […]
Change the Brain’s Electrical Activity to during Sleep and Wakefulness with Meditation By John M. de Castro, Ph.D. “Soon after beginning a meditation practice, many people report needing less sleep.” – Eoc Institute We spend about a third of our lives in sleep, but we know very little about it. It is known […]
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 Thinking in Adolescents with Yoga Practice By John M. de Castro, Ph.D. “Yoga is like music. The rhythm of the body, the melody of the mind, and the harmony of the soul creates the symphony of life.” B.K.S. Iyengar Yoga practice has been shown to have a large number of beneficial effects on […]
Different Activity of the Brain is Associated with Meditation By John M. de Castro, Ph.D. “Backed by 1000’s of studies, meditation is the neuroscientific community’s most proven way to upgrade the human brain.” – EOC Institute There has accumulated a large amount of research demonstrating that mindfulness has significant benefits for psychological, physical, and […]
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 […]
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 […]