Blissful Brain

The Blissful Brain is published by Gaia Thinking. For more information on how to order your copy, please click here.

Guardian G2: Mind over matter by Andy Darling

"Neuroscientist Shanida Nataraja has proven meditation does more than clear your head, it can put both halves of your brain to work, improving your concentration, memory, and decision-making...". To read more, please click here.

The Times: Calm down dear by Angela Pertusini

"Claims by the neuroscientist Shanida Nataraja regarding the benefits of meditation have been backed up by rigourous scientific research and are explained in her acclaimed book The Blissful Brain: Neuroscience and Proof of the Power of Meditation". To read more, please click here.

Just this Day event: A Day of Silence and Stillness at St Martin's in the Field on 23rd of November 2011

Shanida Nataraja will be participating in this exciting event that aims to explore the power of silience and stillness in our busy world. For more information, please click here or visit the Just This Day website.

Mindfulness in the Workplace: Brain based approaches to improving employee resilience and productivity at Robinson College, Cambridge on 10 February 2012

Shanida Nataraja will be speaking at this day event that brings together leading experts in mindfulness to discuss how it could help organisations improve productivity & resiliance. Speakers include Professor Mark Williams, Michael Chaskalson, Ruby Wax, Margaret Chapman, and more (for more information, please see click here.

Neuronal Communication

The gap between neurones is referred to as a synapse. Neurones have developed two main ways of communicating with each other across this gap. Some neurones communicate by means of protein pores built into their membranes. These pores form open channels through which ions, such as sodium and potassium, can freely move. These so called electrical synapses allow the activity in one neurone to directly drive activity in neighbouring neurones. Communication across these synapses is therefore very quick and is ideal for groups of neurones whose function dictates that their activity be synchronised and coordinated, such as the nuclei in the more primitive brainstem that control our automated, instinctual behaviour.

However, the majority of the neurones in the human brain communicate by means of chemical signals. The neurone broadcasting the signal, referred to as the pre-synaptic neurone, releases a chemical transmitter, such as glutamate or dopamine, into the gap between the two neurones. These chemicals bind to special receptors on the neurone receiving the signal, referred to as a post-synaptic neurone, triggering a cascade of events in that neurone, the nature of which depends on the type and quantity of chemical released. As mentioned before, some chemical transmitters are excitatory, such as glutamate and serotonin. In other words, when bound to the appropriate receptor, they mediate the flow of positively charged ions, such as sodium or calcium, into the post-synaptic neurone. This triggers a spike in electrical activity in the post-synaptic neurones that, in most cases, travels the entire length of the neurones, relaying the excitatory signal to all the neurones downstream in the network.

When the stimulus is particularly strong, huge quantities of chemicals are released into the synapse, thereby triggering a prolonged period of electrical activity in the post-synaptic neurone. Waves of electrical activity ripple through the neurone, communicating the strength of the stimulus in the size and frequency of these waves. Other chemical transmitters are inhibitory, such as gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA). In other words, when bound to the appropriate receptor, they mediate the flow of negatively charged ions, such as chloride, into the post-synaptic neurone. This dampens electrical activity in the post-synaptic neurone and, as a consequence, all the neurones downstream in the network are also silent, inactive. When the stimulus is particularly strong, once again, large quantities of chemical are released into the synapse, thereby completely dampening electrical activity in the post-synaptic neurone. Even some time later, any received stimulus will therefore fail to evoke a response in the post-synaptic neurone. It is effectively sedated, asleep, as are all the neurones downstream.

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