Impact of meditation on brain activity

Sara Lazar, Ph.D., studies how brain activity and structure change as a result of mindfulness meditation training.

The associate researcher in psychiatry at the Massachusetts General Hospital and assistant professor in psychology at Harvard Medical School will present “Meditation and Neuroplasticity” on Oct. 12 at 4 p.m. in the Sorrell Center, Room 2018.

Sara Lazar, Ph.D.

Attendees will learn more about the impact of meditation on brain structure and function; how these changes impact clinical symptoms of anxiety, depression and pain; and how these changes impact normal changes in cognition as we age.

Dr. Lazar’s research is to elucidate the neural mechanisms underlying the beneficial effects of yoga and meditation, both in clinical settings and in healthy individuals. She has been practicing yoga and mindfulness meditation since 1994. Her research has been covered by numerous news outlets including The New York Times, USA Today, CNN and WebMD, and her work has been featured in a display at the Boston Museum of Science.

Her presentation will be both live streamed and archived.