M．R. I(磁共振)brain scans taken before and after the participants' meditation found increased grey matter in the hippocampue，an area important for learning and memory. The images also showed a reduction of grey matter in the amygdala，a part connected to anxiety and stress. A control group that did not practise meditation showed no such changes.

　　How exactly did these study volunteers meditate？So many people talk about meditating these days. Within four miles of our Bay Area home，there are at least six centers that offer some type of meditation class，and I often

　　hear phrases like，“So how was your sit today？”

　　Britta Holzel，a professor at Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School and the study's lead author，said the participants practised mindfulness meditation，a form of silent deep thought that was introduced in the United States in the late 1970s. It traces its roots to the same ancient Buddhist techniques that my husband follows.

　　“The main idea is to use different objects to focus one's attention，and it could be a focus on sensations of breathing，or emotions or thoughts，or observing any type of body sensations，”she said. “But it's about bringing the mind back to the here and now，as opposed to letting the mind wander. ”

　　Generally the meditators are seated upright on a chair or the floor and in silence，although sometimes there might be a guide leading the practice，Dr. Holzel said.

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