IB Psychology - Holzel et al. (2011)

Aim

Test the effect of mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction therapy on physiological differences in grey matter.

Participants

Purposive sampling of 16 adults w/o meditation and 17 adults w/ meditation.

Method

MRI scans were conducted before the MBSR program, then they engaged in the 8 week program. MRI scans were conducted after and compared using voxel based morphometry (detects grey matter).

Findings

Compared to the control group, participants in the MBSR condition showed increases in grey matter in the left hippocampus, cerebellum and posterior cingulate cortex.

Conclusion

Results show that different parts of the brain can be trained and/or altered into doing or disregarding certain actions (neuroplasticity). Change in the structure of regions of the brain impacted by grey matter results in a change in behaviour (learning, memory, emotion...)