That’s according to a study conducted at Harvard!
After completing an 8-week Mindfulness program, participants were observed to have significant increases in the density of their gray matter (a major component in the central nervous system).
This study was completed in 2011, and since then there have been many studies finding more and more information about how Mindfulness helps the brain. This Harvard collective of Christina Congleton, Britta K. Holzel and Sara Lazar, chose to study two areas that would have the most interest for business professionals.
The Anterior Cingulate Cortex (ACC)
This is a structure located deep inside the forehead, behind the brain’s frontal lobe. This area is commonly associated with self-regulation.
Those who have damaged ACC’s have a strong need for impulsivity and aggression, while those who perform poorly on tests around mental flexibility may suffer from impaired connections between the ACC and other parts of the brain.
If you want to know the best group for a strong ACC connection, look to the meditators! They exhibited stronger performances on tests about self-regulation, suffered from less distractions, and made more correct answers – result!
The Hippocampus
This area of the brain can be found inside the temple on each side of the brain and is a part of the limbic system. It also has the unique characteristic of looking like a Seahorse!
The participants in the 2011 Mindfulness study were found to have large amounts of gray matter in this area of the brain, which is good because if they were suffering from chronic stress – it could seriously damage the Hippocampus!
People with stress-related issues, such as PTSD or any level of depression, have been found to have smaller Hippocampus’ compared to those who don’t.
Conclusion
If you think Mindfulness is the type of training that you could have but don’t really need – you are very wrong! Mindfulness Training is now being scientifically proven to help staff at all levels to keep brains healthy and minds clear.
If you think your organisation could benefit from Mindfulness Training, you can now find our new training programme here, created alongside not-for-profit organisation BS2B.
Or, if you would like to view a quick FREE resource to show your boss why your office needs Mindfulness training, you can take a look at our Mindfulness Matters infographic here.