Neuroscientists find evidence meditation changes how fluid moves in the brain. Findings suggest that focused attention meditation can induce changes in cerebrospinal fluid dynamics that are similar to those observed during sleep.
Neuroscientists find evidence meditation changes how fluid moves in the brain
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Meditation is also beneficial for neuron transmission. It allows electrical impulses to travel faster by producing and strengthening myelin.
My chronic joint pain comes to the forefront when I try to meditate so no matter how much positive I hear about it, I just can’t do it.
>A new [study](https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2504961122) published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences provides evidence that a specific style of meditation may alter the circulation of fluids within the brain. The findings suggest that focused attention meditation can induce changes in cerebrospinal fluid dynamics that are similar to those observed during sleep. This research suggests that mental training might offer a non-invasive method to support the brain’s waste clearance systems.
>The study was led by Manus Donahue, a professor of Neurology at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. Donahue and his colleagues sought to understand if waking states could influence the movement of neurofluids. Brain health relies heavily on the efficient circulation of cerebrospinal fluid and interstitial fluid. These fluids work together to maintain a stable environment for brain cells.
>They also play a vital role in clearing out metabolic waste products. During the day, the brain accumulates toxic proteins and other byproducts of neural activity. If these substances are not removed effectively, they can build up over time. The accumulation of such waste is linked to neurodegenerative conditions like Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease.
>Current scientific understanding holds that this cleaning process is most active during sleep. During deep rest, the brain’s fluid channels widen, allowing for a more thorough washout of toxins. However, the ability to regulate this flow during waking hours has been largely unexplored. The researchers hypothesized that the physiological state of deep meditation might mimic some of the restorative functions of sleep.
Makes sense. I’ve always had sleep issues and meditation has been how I make up for lack of sleep and still function. It’s the closest I can get to feeling like I slept.Â
Maybe unrelated, but when I meditate I can actually *feel* more blood flow (or some sort of pressure) in my forehead or in the front part of my head. It’s not a bad pressure or anything but I just feel some changes.
I was diagnosed with intracranial hypertension a few years ago. During my last lumbar puncture my neuro took my pressure measurement, then had me mediate and do deep breathing for ten minutes. Afterwards, my CSF pressure was several points lower. She suggested I try to incorporate meditation into my wellness routine to maintain healthy CSF pressure. It was probably the best piece of advice I got after my diagnosis.
Meditation is one of the best things you can do for both physical and mental health and has been proven to have a ton of fairly durable beneficial effects for the brain.
Fascinating.
I gotta find a reliable resource/guide on meditation. It’s such an old practice and so varied, and I know so little about it, that I’d have no way of telling helpful practices apart from psuedoscientific or non-effective practices.