Skip to content

The Role of Neuroplasticity in Well-Being

Apoorav Sharma, Lovleen Marwaha

September 25, 2026 DOI: 10.4018/979-8-3373-7401-7.ch002 (opens in new tab)

Relevant Not relevant

Study at a glance

AI-extracted from the abstract
Characteristics Theoretical or philosophical paper
Interventions Mindfulness meditation positive thinking cognitive reappraisal
Topics Neuroplasticity
Key points Argues that neuroplasticity offers a route to psychological wellbeing through deliberate practices like mindfulness, positive thinking, and cognitive reappraisal. The authors report that mindfulness meditation changes the default mode network, improves prefrontal-limbic regulation, and increases cortical thickness in attention- and emotion-regulation regions, and they describe experience-driven changes in synaptic efficiency, connectivity, and gene expression across the lifespan.

Abstract

The neuroplasticity, the natural ability of the brain to change its structure and its functioning based on experience has become a unifying concept of neuroscience, psychology and even clinical practise. This chapter discusses the potential of neuroplasticity in achieving psychological wellbeing through deliberate cognitive and behavioral activities, including mindfulness, positive thinking, and cognitive reappraisal. Basing on historical underpinnings, modern neuroimaging and molecular neuroscience, the discussion follows the restructuring of synaptic efficiency, neurological connectivity and gene expression through experiences through the lifespan. The evidence has shown that mindfulness meditation changes default mode network, improves prefrontal-limbic regulation, and increases cortical thickness of the areas related to attention and emotion regulation.

Comparable studies

Other theoretical and historical papers on neuroplasticity, most cited first.

Study Year Design Participants
A Dendrite-Focused Framework for Understanding the Actions of Ketamine and Psychedelics 2020 Theoretical or philosophical paper
Does Psychedelic Therapy Have a Transdiagnostic Action and Prophylactic Potential? 2021 Theoretical or philosophical paper
A complex systems perspective on psychedelic brain action. 2023 Theoretical or philosophical paper
Critical Period Plasticity as a Framework for Psychedelic-Assisted Psychotherapy 2021 Theoretical or philosophical paper
Therapeutic mechanisms of psychedelics and entactogens. 2023 Theoretical or philosophical paper

Citations in the library

Cites 4

Related reading

Explore topics

Neuroplasticity Default mode network Meditation