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Comment by ericsoderstrom | Hacker News Reader

Any memory you form, skill you learn or experience you have will change the structure of the brain. Changing structure isn’t in itself a good thing.

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They're not claiming otherwise. Last sentence of the abstract: "Our findings suggest that long-term meditators have structural differences in both gray and white matter." They also talk about where in the brain there are structural changes and what kind of changes they are. Your comment reads like a criticism of some kind, but it would only be valid if the article was just the title and nothing else.

My comment wasn't meant as a criticism of the article. The authors are careful in the claims they make. My point is that they are for the most part uninteresting claims. And articles like this are shared predominately because "changing brain structure" is mistakenly read as "provably does something good for your brain."

Where did you see a value judgement in the study?

Also, no, memory formation and general "experience" do not change the brain in this way. Memorizing something, for example, has completely different physical effects.

the abstract seems to point out (if I understood it correctly, I'm not a neuroscientist) that the relevant changes in the brain are usually associated with centers of the brain that regulate emotional control and prolonged attention, which I would definitely identify as positive if true, and in line with personal experience with mindfulness practise as a way to deal with anxiety and panic attacks.

I mean. Many types of meditation is just that, practicing attention and self control. So would make sense that those skills would improve.

After practicing meditation myself for a couple of years I have noticed no difference what-so-ever. But the act of meditation itself de-stress me (is that a word?)-—relaxing wouldn’t be the right word, because it is not relaxation. Anyway. I’m quite sure I could get the same stress relief by just sit to by down and reading a book.

What sort of meditation have you been practicing? (I think it's useful to be specific, since there are so many different kinds, and also I am merely curious.)

Mindfulness meditation

You need to alter your practice. You have reached a point where you are too comfortable.

Why? You seem to imply that there is a progress or goal to meditation, or that there is one desirable, expected, outcome. I am not sure I agree to such a thing. Meditation is a different to different people. I am happy what meditation is to me, and I see no reason—nor do I want to—change it.

Why did you start? What was your original goal or purpose?

Parent poster talked about getting relaxation and focus but also said after years that is all they got out of the experience.

If their is another goal or desired outcome then challenging yourself will allow for greater development. Parent poster is stuck in a comfortable place and there is nothing wrong with that but in order to advance more work is required.

The word you’re looking for is “de-stresses”.

Another example (sort of):

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9989562

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