To help get a clearer picture of how behavior arises from a biological neural network, UC San Francisco researcher Saul Kato, PhD, is using an animal with a much simpler brain. Tiny, see-through worms called C. elegans, which are less than a millimeter long
There’s been a lot of discussion about what kinds of mental activities are actually capable of changing the brain. Some promises of bolstered IQ and enhanced brain function via specially-designed “brain games” have fizzled out. Meanwhile, meditation and mindfulness training have accumulated some impressive evidence, suggesting that the practices can change not only the structure and function of the brain, but also our behavior and moment-to-moment experience. Now, a new study from the Max Planck Institute finds that three different types of meditation training are linked to changes in corresponding brain regions. The results, published in Science Advances, have a lot of relevance to schools,
