Neuroscience and brain imaging (Holzel et al, 2011; Davidson, 2008) shows us how mindfulness helps the brain to do its job, of sorting out and taking care of our emotions.

According to Dr Richard Davidson (Peoples Pharmacy, 2011) who is the director of Affective Neuroscience and Brain Imaging at University of Wisconsin, 'the brain is built to change to experience...it's a learning machine.’ This is what neuroscientists refer to as neuroplasiticity, which basically means the brain is not a static organ, but is flexible, and can change through out life.

When we practice mindfulness we are training our mind and changing the structure of the brain to improve the quality of both thought and feeling. It strengthens parts of the brain and neuro-pathways associated with attention, emotional regulation (balancing), learning, memory, self awareness and compassion.

Watch the video below about how our brains can be reshaped through meditation training:

TEDxCambridge - Sara Lazar on how meditation can reshape our brains

Uploaded on Jan 23, 2012

Neuroscientist Sara Lazar's amazing brain scans show meditation can actually change the size of key regions of our brain, improving our memory and making us more empathetic, compassionate, and resilient under stress.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=m8rRzTtP7Tc#!