Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 7, 2025
08:16
Combining Behavior and EEG to Study the Effects of Mindfulness Meditation on Episodic Memory
Published on: May 11, 2020
7.4K
Reduced Age-Related Gray Matter Loss in the Orbitofrontal Cortex in Long-Term Meditators
Florian Kurth1, Sarah Strohmaier2, Eileen Luders1,3,4
1School of Psychology, University of Auckland, Auckland 1010, New Zealand.
Brain Sciences
|December 23, 2023
Summary
Long-term meditation may preserve orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) gray matter volume in aging. Meditation practitioners showed a less steep age-related decline in OFC subregions compared to controls.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Cognitive Psychology
- Aging Research
Background:
- The orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) is crucial for cognitive functions influenced by meditation.
- OFC volume decreases with age and differs between meditators and non-meditators.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate if meditation mitigates the age-related decline in OFC gray matter volume.
- To compare age-related OFC volume changes in long-term meditators versus matched controls.
Main Methods:
- Correlated chronological age with regional gray matter volumes of the OFC and its subregions (Fo1-Fo7).
- Studied 50 long-term meditators and 50 matched non-meditator controls.
Main Results:
- Both groups showed age-related decreases in OFC volume.
- The age-related decline was significantly less pronounced in meditators compared to controls.
- Specific OFC subregions (Fo2, Fo3, Fo4, Fo7, left Fo5, right Fo6) showed significant differences.
Conclusions:
- Long-term meditation practice may attenuate the age-related gray matter volume loss in specific OFC subregions.
- These findings suggest a potential neuroprotective effect of meditation on the aging brain.
- Further research is needed to understand the functional implications of these structural changes.
Related Concept Videos
01:25Stress Prevention and Stress Management Techniques III
63
Regular exercise and meditation serve as essential tools in managing stress and promoting physical and mental well-being.
The Role of Exercise in Stress Management
Regular physical activity is essential for reducing stress and promoting cardiovascular health. Exercise strengthens the heart, enhances blood flow, keeps blood vessels flexible, and helps lower blood pressure, all of which reduce the body's stress response. Research shows that adults who exercise regularly have nearly half the...
The Role of Exercise in Stress Management
Regular physical activity is essential for reducing stress and promoting cardiovascular health. Exercise strengthens the heart, enhances blood flow, keeps blood vessels flexible, and helps lower blood pressure, all of which reduce the body's stress response. Research shows that adults who exercise regularly have nearly half the...
63
01:30Cognitive Development During Adulthood
114
Cognitive development continues throughout adulthood, undergoing significant shifts across early, middle, and late stages. Individual transition occurs from adolescent idealism to pragmatic and adaptable thinking in early adulthood. During this period, individuals learn to integrate personal beliefs with the recognition that other perspectives are equally valid. Exposure to the complexities of modern society, diverse experiences, and higher education contribute to this adaptive thought process,...
114