Episode
Does Meditation Really Change Your Brain?
- Podcast
- Dharma Lab
- Published
- Jul 30, 2026
- Duration seconds
- 1637
- Processing state
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Summary
For years, headlines claimed that meditation could actually grow parts of the brain. But what if that’s not the most interesting question? As the science has evolved, researchers have shifted their focus. What changes in the brain? Which changes matter most? And why might some structural changes grow, then recede, as expertise develops? In this conversation, Richie and Cort explore what decades of neuroscience have taught us, what scientists have gotten right, what they’ve gotten wrong, and where the research is heading. Enjoy! Watch on YouTube ; Listen on Spotify or Apple Podcasts . If these conversations are useful, please consider subscribing to our YouTube channel . Reminder: We have a FREE 1-hour live practice session on Aug 19th, 7pm CT with Richie and Cort discussing how different meditation practices map to the four pillars of well-being (Awareness, Connection, Insight, and Purpose). More details and register here! Episode Companion Flashcards! In This Episode: 00:00 Does Meditation Really Change the Brain? 03:16 Brain Function vs. Brain Structure 05:41 The Gray Matter Studies That Started It All 11:45 Why the Gray Matter Evidence Changed 15:20 White Matter and Brain Connectivity 18:01 What the Research Actually Means 21:40 Brain Health, Neuroplasticity, and Human Potential Transcript for those who prefer to read: Richie Davidson: There’s no question that meditation changes the brain. We’re talking here about both the function and the structure of the brain. There’s no question that meditation changes the brain, and there is overwhelming evidence for that. Structural changes, like increases in gray matter in specific regions of the brain after short amounts of meditation, however, are a different story. The evidence for those findings has really not held up. Ev…