Bounty

Meditation can help produce dramatic changes in the brain, a study has revealed.

Research conducted by the University of Oregon found that 11 hours spent practising the meditation technique integrative body-mind training (IBMT), could regulate behaviour and emotions.

The study, reported in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, was carried out with 45 volunteers. Half were given IBMT training and the other half learned relaxation techniques.

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) examined the connectivity of the volunteers' brains before and after the training.

The study found that by connecting the neurons important for emotional and behavioural regulation, meditation could help a person find peace.

Professor Michael Posner, US psychologist who co-led the research said: "The pathway that has the largest change due to IBMT is one that previously was shown to relate to individual differences in the person's ability to regulate conflict."

The same team has previously worked on studies showing that meditation helps reduce anxiety, anger, depression and fatigue.

Prof Posner, University of Oregon said: "The importance of our findings relates to the ability to make structural changes in a brain network related to self-regulation."

Copyright Press Association 2010.