Long-term meditation is associated with increased gray matter density in the brain stem

@article{VestergaardPoulsen2009LongtermMI,
  title={Long-term meditation is associated with increased gray matter density in the brain stem},
  author={Peter Vestergaard-Poulsen and Martijn van Beek and Joshua C. Skewes and Carsten Reidies Bjarkam and Michael Stubberup and Jes Bertelsen and Andreas Roepstorff},
  journal={NeuroReport},
  year={2009},
  volume={20},
  pages={170-174}
}
Extensive practice involving sustained attention can lead to changes in brain structure. Here, we report evidence of structural differences in the lower brainstem of participants engaged in the long-term practice of meditation. Using magnetic resonance imaging, we observed higher gray matter density in lower brain stem regions of experienced meditators compared with age-matched nonmeditators. Our findings show that long-term practitioners of meditation have structural differences in brainstem… 
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