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© h.koppdelaneyBenefits of Meditation
People exercise so they can build and boost their muscles. Can they do the same for their brain using meditation? A group of contemplative neuroscientists believe that that there's a direct connection between meditation and improving the brain in the form of mental exercise.

Contemplative neuroscience is a new field that backs up this claim. It deals with the brain science of meditation and is being led by Richard Davidson, a psychologist who has been practicing meditation for decades.

"We all know that if you engage in certain kinds of exercise on a regular basis you can strengthen certain muscle groups in predictable ways," he said.

"Strengthening neural systems is not fundamentally different. "It's basically replacing certain habits of mind with other habits," Davidson also added.

This group is recommending meditation to help change the brain for the better. Meditating has a direct effect to help people concentrate and empathize with other people. Even novices can enjoy the benefits especially in developing "loving-kindness". These are claims made by the group regarding the benefits.

There are studies that support these claims. However, more studies are needed to complement existing reports for more credibility. But still, people recognize the benefits of meditation to combat depression and even continuous pain.

More reports are expected to surface as scientists have started monitoring brain activity with the help of the relatively newer technology of MRI. The new field also received additional funding from the National Institutes of Health that can help it get off the ground.