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 […]
Alter Brain Activation Regardless of Depression with Mindfulness By John M. de Castro, Ph.D. “Now, as the popularity of mindfulness grows, brain imaging techniques are revealing that this ancient practice can profoundly change the way different regions of the brain communicate with each other – and therefore how we think – permanently.” – […]
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 […]
Change the Brain to Improve Resilience with Meditation By John M. de Castro, Ph.D. “Mindful people … can better cope with difficult thoughts and emotions without becoming overwhelmed or shutting down (emotionally). Pausing and observing the mind may (help us) resist getting drawn into wallowing in a setback.” – Badri Bajaj Psychological […]
Improve Feedback Learning with Focused Meditation By John M. de Castro, Ph.D. “Meditation is a powerful tool for the body and the mind; it can reduce stress and improve immune function. But can it also help us train our minds to learn faster from feedback or information acquired through past experiences?” – Jasmine […]