The human brain is the central processor of information between the body and the environment. One of the most revolutionary advances in neuroscience is that the brain is also highly adaptable, that how we feel shapes the structure and the function of the brain. The brain triggers stress so that we can survive life-threating situations and to give us the drive and desire to do things. However, fast paced, achievement driven lifestyles lock our brain in a continuous state of illusory survival mode.
Today we know that negative impressions on the brain powerfully inhibit the ability to focus, to make decisions and to feel empathy or social connectedness. They disrupt the rhythm of the heart; flood the blood with stress hormones and change who we are at a genetic level. An increasing number of diseases of our time are correlated with negative stressors both acute and chronic and they may be inheritable. Science is now re-discovering ancient meditation techniques to train the brain to use a different type of software that instructs anti-aging mechanisms, highly efficient brain execution and compassion. In this lecture we will review some of the most important advances in the field and experience a brief meditation practice.