To what extent does the practice of mindfulness change the physiology

of the brain and what are the behavioral outcomes associated with these
changes?

Isabelle Bonecutter

Senior Project Advisor: Sara Price

12th Grade Humanities

Animas High School
February 27 2017

Part I: Introduction

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According to the National Institute of Mental Health, anxiety disorders are the most

common mental illness in the United States, affecting forty million adults ages eighteen and

older, or 18% of the population (Kessler et al.). With a vast number of individuals suffering with

various mental health problems, there is a strong demand for effective coping and healing

strategies. Scientific research and studies have proven that the practice of mindfulness decreases

the levels of various mental health problems such as stress, anxiety, depression, alexithymia, and

worry, while also being confirmed to significantly increase levels of emotional awareness.

The practice of mindfulness must not be generalized as an exclusive spiritual practice, but

should rather be recognized by its ability to serve as an effective medicinal tool for mental

health problems. Scientific studies demonstrate that the practice of mindfulness promotes

neuroplasticity, which ultimately changes the physiology of the brain in ways that are correlated

with positive behavioral changes.

Part II: Historical Content

In the article Structure of Mindful Brain, the author defines mindfulness as bringing

one's complete attention to the experiences occurring in the present moment in a non-

judgemental and accepting way (Murakami et al. 1). Originally derived from Pali, the language

of Buddhist psychology, the term mindfulness comes from the combination of two words: Sati-

meaning awareness and Samprajanya-meaning clear comprehension, thus indicating a way

of being aware and attending to what happens (Grecucci et al, 1). Mindfulness is considered to

originate from eastern introspective spiritual practices, mainly Buddhism. Forms of mindfulness

meditation are in almost all of the world's religions, such as yogic meditation in the Hindu

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tradition, Kabbalah meditation in Judaism, contemplative prayer in Christianity, and Sufi

meditation in Islam (Grecucci et al. 1, 2).

Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR), one of the most widely used mindfulness

programs, was founded by Jon Kabat-Zinn, who was also the first person to take a scientific lens

on the practice of mindfulness (Guided Mindfulness Meditation Classes With Jon Kabat-Zinn).

MBSR has been reported to produce positive effects on the psychological well being and to

ameliorate symptoms of a number of disorders (Holzel et al. 1). The MBSR program consists of

eight weekly meetings lasting two and a half hours each, plus one full day (6.5 hours) during the

6th week of the course. Formal mindfulness training exercises aim at developing the capacity for

mindfulness and include body scans, mindful yoga, and sitting meditation. Participants are

encouraged to incorporate their new knowledge and mindfulness skills outside of class during

the eight weeks (Holzel et al. 3).

In today's society, it is not uncommon for people to experience and suffer from various

mental health problems. Mental health problems can cover a broad range of disorders, but the

common characteristic between all is that they all affect the individuals personality, thought

processes, or social interactions (Mental Health Problem Symptoms, Causes and Effects). The

practice of mindfulness can be used as a self administered and regulated approach to decrease

levels of various mental health problems. With current science and technology, including various

brain imaging technology, analysis techniques, and specific questionnaires, researchers are

capable of observing the correlations between the practice of mindfulness, the brain, and

behavior.

Part III: Research and Analysis

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Section A: Neuroplasticity

Neuroplasticity is the brain's ability to reorganize itself by forming new neural

connections throughout life. It allows the neurons (the basic working units of the brain designed

to transmit information to other nerve cells, muscles, or gland cells) in the brain to form and

reorganize in response to new situations or to changes in the environment (Medical Definition of

Neuroplasticity). Researchers have proven that neuroplasticity is a natural response to the

practice of mindfulness through observing physical changes in the brain of mindfulness

participants. These observations are present throughout the studies mentioned in this paper. The

process of neuroplasticity throughout these studies have been correlated with positive changes in

behavior. Studies mentioned in this paper specifically focus on observing changes in grey matter

thickness amongst individuals who practiced mindfulness.

Grey matter contains most of the brain's neuronal cell bodies and is also composed of

axons. Axons conduct electrical impulses away from and to other cells carrying signals and

informations between neuronal cell bodies. The functions of the brain depend on the ability of

neurons to transmit electrochemical signals to other cells, and their ability to respond

appropriately to electrochemical signals received from other cells. The grey matter serves to

process information in the brain (Robertson). Observed changes in certain regions of the brain

(specifically grey matter thickness within those regions) is the result of neuroplasticity, the

process of forming and reorganizing of neuronal cells within the grey matter in response to the

mindfulness experience. Studies have proven positive and negative correlations between the

extent of changes in grey matter thickness in certain regions of the brain. Researchers have

observed significant changes in grey matter thickness amongst certain regions of the brain

associated with emotional awareness, as a result of the practice of mindfulness.

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Section B: Increases in Emotional Awareness

In the article Interaction between Neuroanatomical and Psychological Changes after

Mindfulness-Based Training, researchers found that the practice of mindfulness is positively

correlated to an individual's capacity to be emotionally aware. Emotional awareness is the ability

to identify one's own emotions and those of others, along with the ability to manage emotions,

including the ability to regulate your own emotions (Emotional Intelligence). A study was

conducted with two groups, one group of twenty four individuals who participated in the eight

week MBSR program, and another group of twenty four individuals who served as the control

group, who did not participate in the MBSR program. All participants in the study were assessed

pre and post the eight weeks through specific questionnaires that assessed the following: anxiety,

depression, alexithymia, worry, and presence or absence of attention and awareness in the

present moment (mindfulness). Changes in the brains of all participants were observed pre and

post the eight weeks through MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) brain scans analysed with VBM

(voxel-based morphometry, a neuroimaging analysis technique that allows investigation of focal

differences in brain anatomy and changes in grey matter) and voxel-based cortical thickness

(used to calculate grey matter thickness).

Results showed an increase in grey matter thickness greater in the MBSR participants

than in the control group, specifically located in the right insula and somatosensory cortex.

Changes in grey matter thickness in the control group were not present. The rate of changes in

thickness were then correlated with the changes in psychological indexes of interest (the results

of the questionnaires), revealing a significant, negative correlation between alexithymia (the

difficulty in experiencing, expressing, and describing emotional responses) levels and right

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anterior insula grey matter thickness values. The correlation of the insula-alexithymia

interaction observed in the participants to the MBSR program could simply indicate an increase

in their emotional awareness driven by the mindfulness experience, a phenomena that seems to

be neuro-biologically supported by an increase in the activity of the insula (Santarnecchi et al.

8). The right insula is a key node for interoception, awareness of body movements, emotional

regulation, and emotional awareness (Santarnecchi et al. 6). Santarnecchi et al. stated, The

MBSR program, by training interoception, may improve the understanding and processing of

own emotional reactions to internal and external stimuli, with a positive cascade effect on

individual ability to exert cognitive control over emotions (8). Researchers observed that the

practice of mindfulness promotes changes in the grey matter thickness in the right anterior

insula, and the thickness changes are correlated with decreases in alexithymia, due to the

functions of the right anterior insula and its role in emotional awareness.

This study observed physical grey matter changes in the brains of mindful participants

compared to a control group who did not participate in the MBSR program. The physical brain

changes observed in this study were due the process of neuroplasticity, the forming of new

neuronal cells within the grey matter in the right anterior insula and somatosensory cortex,

therefore increasing the overall grey matter thickness within those regions. Researchers found a

negative correlation between the thickness values of the right anterior insula and alexithymia

levels. This proves a correlation between physical changes in a key part of the brain associated

with emotional awareness and increased emotionally aware behavior due to the mindfulness

experience. Other studies have observed the correlation between the practice of mindfulness and

increased emotional awareness through observing changes in other key regions of the brain

associated with emotions, including the hippocampus and amygdala.

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In the article Mindfulness Meditation Practice Changes The Brain, a study was

conducted on two groups, one group of sixteen individuals who participated in an eight week

MBSR program, as well as another group of seventeen, who served as the control group and who

did not participate in the program. Participants were assessed pre and post the eight weeks

through MRI imaging and questionnaires. Questionnaire responses indicated that at the end of

the two weeks, participants felt more capable of acting with awareness by being emotionally

aware, making observations, and remaining non judgmental. The MRI results showed that the

meditators, but not the controls, had an increased concentration of grey matter in the

hippocampus, and a decreased concentration of grey matter in the amygdala.

The hippocampus is a structure in the brain in charge of learning, memory, and regulation

of emotions (Harvard Health Publications, 1). This could be key factor as to why participants felt

an increase in their awareness of actions and emotions. The hippocampus allows us to be

consciously aware of ourselves and have a sense of self (The Self Thats Left When Memories

Fade). Although the increase of grey matter thickness in the amygdala could be slightly

correlated with increased emotional awareness observed in participants due to the amygdala's

function of allowing us to feel different emotions, the amygdala is most known as the brain's

fight or flight center, as it initiates automatic flight or fight responses, specifically stress, fear,

and anxiety (Felhaber). Other studies mentioned in this paper observe that the practice of

mindfulness is correlated with decreases in grey matter thickness in the amygdala, and

correlations between changes in the amygdala and decreased levels of stress have been observed.

The decrease of grey matter in the amygdala observed in this study may be more due to

decreased levels of stress in participants due to participation in the MBSR program, and

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increases in the thickness of grey matter in the hippocampus may be more related and correlated

to the results found through questionnaire responses.

This study observed correlations between changes in grey matter thickness levels

amongst key areas of the brain associated with memory, emotion, and conscious awareness

including the hippocampus and the amygdala. The correlation between the function of the

hippocampus and questionnaire responses of individuals points to a stronger correlation than the

function of the amygdala and recorded responses of individuals. Although the amygdala does

play a role in emotion, specifically the ability to experience emotions, the amygdala is most

correlated to the emotions of stress and anxiety, and the decrease in amygdala grey matter

thickness in this study may have been more correlated to decreases in stress due to the

mindfulness experience. Another study confirms a correlation between the grey matter thickness

in the right anterior insula and emotional awareness, but contradicts the observation of decreased

grey matter thickness in the amygdala correlated to the practice of mindfulness and emotional

awareness.

In the article The Structure of Mindful Brain, a group of nineteen volunteer participants

were recruited to participate in a study that assessed individual brain grey matter thickness

differences in mindfulness states. Participants did not participate in a mindfulness course but

their overall levels of different elements of mindfulness were assessed through the FFMQ (Five

Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire). The FFMQ is composed of five facets that represent the

elements of mindfulness: nonreactivity to inner experience, non judging, acting with awareness,

describing, and observing. In this study, whole brain images were collected for every subject

with MRI imaging. Voxel-based morphometry was applied to investigate the relationship

between the grey matter thickness in the brain structure and each facet score as measured by the

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FFMQ. Researchers observed a positive correlation between the describing facet of mindfulness

on the FFMQ and grey matter volume in the right anterior insula and right amygdala. The

describing facet is defined as: finding the words to describe one's own feelings; non judging of

experience (Murakami 2). Researchers observed that the higher the describing facet score was in

individuals, the thicker the grey matter of the right anterior insula and amygdala were.

Researchers in this study were specifically looking at grey matter thickness in the brain and

found that no other facets of mindfulness tendencies were correlated with grey matter volume in

participants.

As mentioned in Interaction between Neuroanatomical and Psychological Changes after

Mindfulness-Based Training, the right insula is a key node for interoception, awareness of body

movements, emotional regulation, and emotional awareness (Santarnecchi et al. 6). As

mentioned in Mindfulness Meditation Practice Changes The Brain, the amygdala allows us to

feel different emotions, but the amygdala is most known as the brain's fight or flight center, as

it initiates automatic flight or fight responses, specifically stress, fear, and anxiety (Felhaber).

Although this study confirms that the self awareness of individuals who have higher describing

scores on the FFMQ is correlated with an increase of grey matter thickness in the right anterior

insula (an observational trend found throughout the studies mentioned in this paper), there are

several limitations to the study conducted in this article that could explain why there were

contradicting results, specifically an increase in grey matter thickness in the right amygdala

correlated with the describing facet of mindfulness.

Unlike the other studies mentioned in this paper, in this study there was no control group

present, participants in this study did not participate in a MBSR program, nor did participants get

assessed pre and post practicing mindfulness. In an experiment, a control group is used to

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establish a baseline to compare the results of the main experiment to. Having a control group

rules out other variables that could affect results of an experiment (What is the purpose of a

control in an experiment). In this study, it is unknown and inaccurate to assume that the only

variable correlated to a greater grey matter thickness in the amygdala of some participants is

their describing facet score. Others studies mentioned in this paper confirm a significant positive

correlation between decreased grey matter thickness in the amygdala, and decreased levels of

stress due to the mindfulness experience. Without participants participating in an MBSR

program, stress levels of individuals did not decrease, therefore there wasn't a decrease of grey

matter thickness in the right amygdala.

An explanation as to why there was greater volume of grey matter thickness in some

participants could have been do to those participants having higher levels of stress and anxiety in

their lives, and the thickness could be completely unrelated to describing scores. In the study

Size, connectivity of brain region linked to anxiety level in young children, results showed that

the larger the amygdala and the stronger its connections with other parts of the brain involved in

perception and regulation of emotion, the greater the amount of anxiety and stress someone was

experiencing (Stanford University Medical Center).

The only way to accurately observe if describing facet scores of individuals are correlated

with thicker levels of grey matter, would be to have mindfulness naive participants participate in

an MBSR program, have a present control group who is also naive to mindfulness and who does

not participate in the program, and then assess both groups pre and post to the course and

compare and analyze results. This study confirms the grey matter thickness of the right anterior

insula has a strong correlation with emotional awareness in individuals who are mindful.

Researchers in this study observed greater grey matter thickness in the amygdala of participants

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with a higher describing facet score, but the observed thickness may be due to different levels of

stress and anxiety those individual were experiencing. Along with increases in emotional

awareness correlated with regions of the brain due to the mindfulness experience, researchers

have observed correlations between decreases in various mental health problems including stress,

anxiety, depression, and worry as a result of the mindfulness practice.

Section C: Decreased levels of mental health problems

Studies have proven that the practice of mindfulness is correlated with decreases in

mental health problems such as stress, anxiety, depression, alexithymia and worry. Researchers

have observed neuroplasticity in the brains of mindfulness participants, resulting in changes in

the thickness of grey matter in certain regions of their brains associated with these mental health

problems. In the article Stress Reduction Correlates with Structural Changes in the Amygdala,

a study was conducted on participants who participated in an 8 week MBSR course and their

levels of stress before and after the course were assessed and then correlated with changes in

grey matter thickness in the amygdala. Participants were assessed using the PSS (perceived stress

scale) pre and post the course. All participants were required to have met a certain level of stress

above the population mean to qualify as a participant in the study. Researches also assessed

whether the amount of time participants practiced mindfulness at home on their own time had an

influence on their level of recorded stress (number of hours of mindfulness practice versus PSS

score).

Results of the study showed that there was a positive correlation between significant

decreases in grey matter volume in the right amygdala and perceived stress score. These results

were observed through MRI brain imaging and VBM analysis. The researchers state, The

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amygdala is widely regarded as one of the most important limbic structures in prevailing models

of stress states and anxiety disorders (Holzel et al. 13). The correlation of the change in

perceived stress and amygdala grey matter within the left amygdala was not significant. The

researchers explain that the right amygdala mediates an initial, fast, and perhaps automatic

stimulus detection, followed by a more evaluative and discriminative response by the left

amygdala (Holzel et al. 14). The study found that the amount of training was correlated with the

improvement in stress through measuring the number of minutes of mindfulness practice that

participants reported on daily logs with the magnitude of their reduction in stress.

This study proves that through the process of neuroplasticity, grey matter thickness of the

right amygdala significantly increases due to the practice of mindfulness, and that the practice of

mindfulness has the ability to decrease stress levels of individuals. Correlations between

perceived stress scores and grey matter thickness of the right amygdala were observed in this

study, proving that the right amygdala plays a large role in stress response. As mentioned

previously, the amygdala (also known as the fight or flight center of the brain) plays a key role in

stress responses. A correlation between the amount of time participants practiced mindfulness

and was correlated with the improvement of stress, showing a positive correlation between the

amount of time one practices mindfulness and the extent of which stress levels decrease. Other

studies have observed that due to the mindfulness experience, there are present correlations

between other key parts of the brain associated with sensory discriminative processing and

regulation of emotion with decreases in mental health problems, specifically the right anterior

insula and the somatosensory cortex.

In the article Interaction Between Neuroanatomical And Psychological Changes After

Mindfulness-Based Training, mentioned earlier under the Increases in self awareness section,

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results of the study showed that MBSR trainees had a pre post decrease in alexithymia, worry,

anxiety, and depression and an increase in presence or absence of attention and awareness in the

present moment (mindfulness). Researchers observed an increase in grey matter thickness greater

in the MBSR than in the control group, specifically located in the right insula and somatosensory

cortex. As mentioned earlier, there was a significant negative correlation for alexithymia level

and insula cluster thickness values. The somatosensory cortex is associated with sensory-

discriminative processing of nociceptive information. Neurons that sense feelings in our skin,

pain, visual, or auditory stimuli, all send their information to the somatosensory cortex for

processing (Somatosensory Cortex). During the MBSR program, focusing attention on somatic

sensations is trained through body scanning, sitting meditation, mindful yoga and walking

meditation exercises, in which students learn to focus mindful attention on sensations coming

from different parts of their bodies (Santarnecchi et al. 7). The repeated increases of average

activation in the somatosensory cortex during the program could be responsible for the observed

increase in grey matter thickness and the increase in presence of attention and awareness in the

present moment, due to participants focus of mindful attention on sensations during their

practice.

As mentioned previously, the right anterior insula is a key node for emotion regulation

and emotional awareness. The increase of grey matter in the right anterior insula, along with

being correlated to decreases in alexithymia, may also be correlated to the observed decrease in

levels of worry, anxiety, and depression in participants. Emotion regulation is a term generally

used to describe a persons ability to effectively manage and respond to an emotional experience.

Emotion regulation can help to diffuse strong emotions, often allowing for a greater

understanding of what led to the emotional experience (Rolstan et al.). When people suffer from

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depression they often also feel anxiety and spend too much time worrying, which increases their

depression (Wehrenberg). The three are very linked. When these conditions gets out of control,

so does the emotion, and the conditions become harder to manage along with managing the

emotions that come with it.

This study has proven that the practice of mindfulness is correlated with changes in key

parts of the brain associated with emotion regulation and processing of senses, there for, worry,

anxiety, and depression levels may decrease in participants do to their stronger ability after the

mindfulness course to regulate their emotional levels, process what they are feeling, and control

the severity of their mental health problem. Researchers have found that although the practice of

mindfulness decreases levels of mental health problems, the amount of time one practices

mindfulness determines the extent of the severity of the mental health issues an individual is

experiencing.

In the article Examining The Efficacy Of A Brief Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction

(Brief MBSR) Program On Psychological Health, a study was conducted to examine the

potential mental health benefits of participating in a brief (5 week) mindfulness-based stress

reduction program on students. This study compared changes in psychological health of students

who participated in the mindfulness program and those who were participants in the control

group. Baseline and follow up data were collected across semesters for both groups. Both groups

took questionnaires that assessed participants psychological health through the following:

mindfulness, self compassion, and anxiety.

Results showed significant improvements in psychological health, specifically

mindfulness and self compassion. There were slight reductions in anxiety, however longer

MBSR courses and the practice of mindfulness may be needed to further improve psychological

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distress, such as trait anxiety. The researchers state, Our results are also similar to findings from

a recent randomized clinical trial of a 4-week mindfulness program, conducted with a nonclinical

adult population, that found significant improvements in psychological well-being, but not in

anxiety or depression, thus indicating psychological distress (such as anxiety) may be more

resistant to change, and longer MBSR programs may be required to reduce trait anxiety and

psychological distress (Bergen-Cico et al. 355). The article Stress Reduction Correlates with

Structural Changes in the Amygdala, mentioned above, reinforces these findings by also

observing a correlation between the amount of training with the improvement in stress through

measuring the number of minutes of mindfulness practice that participants reported on daily logs

with the magnitude of their reduction in stress. This study proves that although the practice of

mindfulness is correlated with changes in grey matter thickness of the brain in areas that are

correlated to mental health problems, the amount of time one practices mindfulness determines

the extent of the severity of the mental health issues an individual is experiencing.

Part IV: Conclusion

There are several conclusions that can be drawn out from the studies mentioned in this

paper that clearly prove the correlations between four certain regions of our brains that are

physically changed during the mindfulness practice, and each of their effects specific changed

behavior. The right anterior insula, a key region of the brain associated with interoception,

awareness of body movements, emotional regulation, and emotional awareness, is positively

correlated with individuals increased emotional awareness and decreases in the severity of

mental health problems in individuals who practice mindfulness. There is a strong correlation

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between increased grey matter thickness in the right anterior insula after practicing mindfulness

and decreased levels of alexithymia, increased levels of being able to describe one's own

feelings, and an increase in non judgmental experiences. Due to the emotion regulation function

of the right anterior insula, the increase in grey matter may also be correlated to the decreased

levels of worry, anxiety, and depression after practicing mindfulness. Being able to regulate

emotion can help to diffuse strong emotions, often allowing for a greater understanding of what

led to the emotional experience (Rolstan et al.). Individuals who are struggling with mental

health problems will have a stronger ability after practicing mindfulness to regulate their

emotional levels and control the severity of their mental health problems. Like the right anterior

insula, the hippocampus also largely affects one's emotional awareness.

The hippocampus plays a large role in learning, memory, regulation of emotions, and

allowing us to be consciously aware of ourselves along with having a sense of self. Due to the

mindfulness practice, there is a strong correlation between increases in the grey matter thickness

of the hippocampus and feelings of being able to act with awareness by being emotionally aware,

making observations, and remaining non judgmental. With a higher sense of self, individuals are

capable of being more aware of their own emotion and making observations of themselves. The

amygdala, a key region of the brain that controls stress, fear, and anxiety responses, also plays a

role in emotional awareness and has a significant correlation with the levels of stress an

individual is experiencing.

There is a strong correlation between decreased grey matter thickness in the right

amygdala and decreased levels of stress in individuals who practice mindfulness. It could also be

concluded that the amygdala influences emotional awareness due to the amygdala's role in

allowing one to experience different emotions, which plays a role in emotional awareness and

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emotion regulation. The amygdala, the brains fight or flight center, initiates automatic fight or

flight responses, specifically stress, fear, and anxiety. The increased thickness of grey matter in

the right amygdala due to the practice of mindfulness determines the extent of which the stress

an individual is experiencing is alleviated. Another region of the brain that controls individual's

ability to feel and experience different sensations that occur to them, is correlated with an

increase in individuals ability to have presence of attention and awareness in the present

moment.

The somatosensory cortex, a key region where neurons that sense feelings in our skin,

pain, visual, or auditory stimuli, all send their information to for processing, has increased levels

of grey matter thickness after the practice of mindfulness. The repeated activation of the

somatosensory cortex during MBSR could be responsible for increases in grey matter thickness

and the increase in presence of attention and awareness in the present moment. This is from

participants focus of mindful attention on sensations during their practice, specifically during

body scanning, sitting meditation, mindful yoga and walking meditation exercises. These

practices each require full presence of attention and awareness towards sensations one is

experiencing, therefor causing one to be fully in the present moment. These four certain regions

of the brain have proven, through the practice of mindfulness, their physical changes in grey

matter thickness can significantly and positively alter human behavior.

Mindfulness is an effective approach at decreasing levels of mental health problems in

individuals and an effective way to increase levels of emotional awareness. Through the process

of neuroplasticity, the practice of mindfulness is able to physically change the structure of key

regions of the brain resulting in correlations between brain changes and observable positive

changes in behavior, to the extent of which there are observable decreases in levels of stress,

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anxiety, worry, alexithymia, depression, and an increase in mindfulness and emotional

awareness. There is a strong correlation between levels of emotional awareness and emotional

regulation and being able to decrease the severity of mental health issues. The practice of

mindfulness can be incorporated into everyday life in the real world into everyday encounters

of events that arise mental stress. Allowing yourself to be consciously aware of a situation

without judgment, emotionally aware of how you are feeling, all while regulating the emotions,

can decrease the amount of stress, anxiety, or worry you experience in any situation. To

incorporate the practice of mindfulness into the professional world, including it being offered as

a medical approach towards healing mental health problems by doctors and therapists, further

research must be done to establish the exact amount of time that one needs to practice

mindfulness in order to alleviate the problems. The studies throughout this paper have proven

that the amount of time one practices mindfulness is correlated to the extent of which the mental

health problem is alleviated. Further research must also be done to specifically observe how the

severity and type of mental health issue is correlated to the amount of time one practices

mindfulness, and all the specific mental health problems that have the ability to be reduced

through the practice, including physical health problems. Another piece of research that needs to

be done, is the comparison between medicine and therapy used now for mental health problems,

and how the results compare to the practice of mindfulness. In conclusion, the practice of

mindfulness is a new direction towards an effective mental health treatment that has been proven

to decrease the severity of various mental health problems and have influential results on

individuals ability to be emotionally aware.

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Glossary

Alexithymia: The difficulty in experiencing, expressing, and describing emotional responses

Neuroplasticity: The brain's ability to reorganize itself by forming new neural connections

Physiology: Physiology is the study of life, specifically, how cells, tissues, and organisms

function.

Psychological: of, affecting, or arising in the mind; related to the mental and emotional state of a

person.

Axons: Part of a nerve cell-conduct electrical impulses away from and to other cells carrying

signals and informations between neuronal cell bodies.

Neurons: Basic working units of the brain designed to transmit information to other nerve cells,

muscles, or gland cells

Grey matter: Contains most of the brain's neuronal cell bodies and is also composed of axons-

serves to process information in the brain

Psychological indexes of interest:

Neurobiology: Study of cells of the nervous system and the organization of these cells into

functional circuits that process information and mediate behavior.

Cognition: The mental action or process of acquiring knowledge and understanding through

thought, experience, and the senses.

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