We’re in the midst of a revolution in brain science. The long-held dogma that brain connections are unchangeable after age five, is being usurped with findings that the brain is more plastic than we thought.
Researchers at the University of Wisconsin-Madison published a study in PLoS One this week, showing that our capacity for empathy can be learned and mastered – as one might learn to play soccer or piano. The skill here comes from meditation.
They studied the fMRI scans of 32 subjects, half were trained meditators including the Olympians of meditation, the Tibetan monks. The others were age-matched novices.
In the brain scanner, all were subjected to emotional sounds (like a baby laughing or woman screaming.)
They found that the insula (the area of the brain responsible for physical feelings of compassion) was highly active in the experts. And the right temporal-parietal juncture (an area connected to understanding anothers’ emotional state) was also much more active in experts than in the novices.
It may not be proof that we can turn a schoolyard bully into Gandhi, but it shows meditative training has a significant impact.
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I chose this article because I think you can learn to be kind. As shown in the results of the researchers at the University of Wiconsin i think it does come from meditation. Even though it is not 100 % sure it will still have a significant impact to try to be kind and in the persons mind. You need to put effort and set your mind to do your best in trying to be kind. You don't need to be selfish and think in others also. Try your best to have a good mood and stay positive and this will take you far in your life.
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