A meditation study led by Harvard Researchers showed that it only took eight weeks of meditation, to actually produce a physical change in the brain’s gray matter.
A total of 12 people participated in the Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) Program at the University of Massachusetts Center for Mindfulness. They took 2 weeks off before and after the program and magnetic resonance (MR) images were taken of their brain. They also had weekly mindful meditation meetings where they were given audio recordings to practice their guided meditation, they also had to log how much time they spent meditating throughout their day.
The study showed that the average amount of time spent meditating for each participant was about 27 minutes. What researchers found in the (MR) images was even more incredible. There was an increase in gray-matter density in the hippocampus. Which is responsible for memory and learning.
Due to a decreased gray matter density in the amygdala responsible for anxiety and stress. Participants reported lower levels of stress than usual. The only change that was not seen was the insula which is related to self-awareness. But with longer-term meditation changes might be possible.