Improve Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) Symptoms in Youth with Mind-Body Practices By John M. de Castro, Ph.D. “mindfulness practice can help us pay attention better, resist distractions, be less impulsive, remember what we are doing in the moment, and regulate our own emotions, it is helpful whether we have ADHD or not. But it […]
Improve Brain Function and Mild Cognitive Impairment in the Elderly with Tai Chi By John M. de Castro, Ph.D. “in individuals age 60 or older with mild cognitive impairment . . . engaging in tai chi (a series of gentle, slow movements accompanied by deep breathing) reduces the risk of falling. What’s more, […]
Reconfigure the Brain for Improved Executive Function with Meditation By John M. de Castro, Ph.D. “So, what’s the best way to build a better brain? Backed by 1000’s of studies, meditation is the neuroscientific community’s most proven way to upgrade the human brain.” – EOC Institute The nervous system is a dynamic […]
Reduce the Brain’s Emotional Reactivity with Meditation Practice By John M. de Castro, Ph.D. “Of all the reasons people have for trying meditation, being less emotionally reactive is usually pretty high up.” – Alice G. Walton There has accumulated a large amount of research demonstrating that meditation practice has significant benefits for psychological, physical, […]
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 […]
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 […]
Improve Episodic Memory and Alter Brain Activity during Memory Retrieval with Mindfulness By John M. de Castro, Ph.D. “A critical part of attention (and working memory capacity) is being able to ignore distraction. There has been growing evidence that meditation training (in particular mindfulness meditation) helps develop attentional control, and that this can start to […]
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 […]