Post by Admin on Jan 24, 2016 19:39:48 GMT -5
A heavy academic research paper, April 2014, studying the effects on brain aging etc for those who use yoga or meditation. Basically, the research on benefits of mindful meditation keep on rolling in,and it seems to reinforce what some of us know from our own experience.
Most of this paper is statistical and technical, but you can skip to near the end and read the 'Discussion" section and down, well worth a read. And, here's the final conclusion which closes the article:
Click HERE to see the whole article.
Most of this paper is statistical and technical, but you can skip to near the end and read the 'Discussion" section and down, well worth a read. And, here's the final conclusion which closes the article:
Conclusion
We have provided evidence that is in line with the hypothesis that age-related decline in fluid intelligence is slower in yoga practitioners and meditators and that these practitioners have more efficient and resilient functional brain networks than matched controls. Furthermore, we reported no significant differences between yoga practitioners and meditators on most of the assessed variables and found that mindfulness, which is a key skill developed through meditation and yoga practice, was positively correlated with fluid intelligence and global brain network efficiency and resilience. These findings are of theoretical importance as they provide insight into the global brain functional network architecture of yoga practitioners and meditators and provide a potential mechanism for the preserved intellectual capacity in mindfulness practitioners. Furthermore, these findings have potential practical implications with a rapidly aging world population and increasing life expectancies (United Nations, 2002; Administration on Aging, 2012). Longitudinal research is needed to establish causality between the practice of yoga and meditation and reduced decline of intelligence and functional brain network architecture.
We have provided evidence that is in line with the hypothesis that age-related decline in fluid intelligence is slower in yoga practitioners and meditators and that these practitioners have more efficient and resilient functional brain networks than matched controls. Furthermore, we reported no significant differences between yoga practitioners and meditators on most of the assessed variables and found that mindfulness, which is a key skill developed through meditation and yoga practice, was positively correlated with fluid intelligence and global brain network efficiency and resilience. These findings are of theoretical importance as they provide insight into the global brain functional network architecture of yoga practitioners and meditators and provide a potential mechanism for the preserved intellectual capacity in mindfulness practitioners. Furthermore, these findings have potential practical implications with a rapidly aging world population and increasing life expectancies (United Nations, 2002; Administration on Aging, 2012). Longitudinal research is needed to establish causality between the practice of yoga and meditation and reduced decline of intelligence and functional brain network architecture.
Click HERE to see the whole article.