Mental training has the ability to grow and change the structure of the brain. Just like any other muscle in the body, the brain grows through exercise. Musicians, monks, students, and people from all other walks of life who consistently devote time each day in their schedule to some sort of mental training show that as a result of these tasks, there is commonly up to 130% more gray matter found in the brain compared to those who negate most forms of mental training. Not only does the brain grow with training, but its structure becomes more complex and efficient, very similar to the way a muscle that is being exercised can grow in both mass and density. This restructuring is referred to as neuroplasticity. The brain can be exercised and strengthened regardless of your age, as shown by examples ranging from college students to taxi drivers and even Buddhist monks.

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