Brain Candy
These three structures linked to decision-making, emotion, and memory
have been shown to be positively affected by meditation.
‘We have heard from [attendees] who
are using what they learned at the
Mindful Leadership Summit, and
who feel like they are now part of a
community of people who believe in
the importance of mindfulness and
mindful leadership.’
The cingulate cortex
is part of the brain’s
‘default mode’ network,
and is most active
when we think about
ourselves or remember
scenes from our lives. It
also helps us regulate
our social behaviors and
process consequences.
The almond-shaped
amygdala stores our
short-term memories,
plays host to our
negative emotions
(think guilt or envy),
and plays a key role in
triggering the brain’s
fight-or-flight response.
The seahorse-shaped
hippocampus is
associated with learning,
the formation of long-term memories, and self-awareness. It also helps us
regulate our emotions.