The Neural Mechanisms & Benefits of Mindfulness Meditation UMiami 20 06 2024

This talk provides an introduction and overview to various forms of meditation from the context of neuroscientific literature, with a specific emphasis on mindfulness meditation. After defining meditation, the discussion narrows to various subtypes of sitting meditation, then proceeds to a framework of understanding the human condition from a western psychological perspective (Emotional Processing) before offering the framework of mindfulness meditation through the instructions set out by the Buddha in the Satipatthana Sutta, The Four Foundations of Mindfulness. This includes a description of the skills developed and the perspectives that are enhanced directly through the sitting meditation practice process. With an emphasis on impermanence, the constancy of change, as a central understanding acquired through mindfulness practice, evidence is offered from neuroscientific and physiological perspectives that support that view. Additional evidence is then provided that highlight anatomical and functional brain changes that result from both short- and long-term meditation practice culminating in a neurofunctional model of the mechanisms by which meditation exerts its beneficial effects. This is followed by a brief review of the major health benefits that are empirically linked with meditation practice. The talk concludes with discussion on the implications of this research and potential future applications of mindfulness meditation.

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