Knowledge Tree
gray matter
Also known as: GM, grey matter
Facts (24)
Sources
Self-awareness, self-regulation, and self-transcendence (S-ART) frontiersin.org 10 facts
claimIncreased gray matter concentration in the right hippocampus has been attributed to training in arousal regulation, which suggests a mechanism for regulating the self toward more adaptive trajectories of self-experience.
referenceLuders, E., Toga, A. W., Lepore, N., and Gaser, C. (2009) published 'The underlying anatomical correlates of long-term meditation: larger hippocampal and frontal volumes of gray matter' in Neuroimage, volume 45, pages 672–678, asserting that long-term meditation is associated with larger hippocampal and frontal gray matter volumes.
claimGray matter (GM) concentration in the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) is correlated with the amount of meditation practice.
claimDecreased perceived stress over 8 weeks of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) is positively correlated with decreased gray matter (GM) concentration in the right amygdala, as demonstrated by Holzel et al. (2011b).
claimMeditation may slow the natural progression of cortical thinning over time, as normal age-related decline in gray matter (GM) volume and attentional performance is present in controls but not in meditators.
claimAbnormal gray matter (GM) concentration or functional activity in the left subgenual anterior cingulate cortex (sgACC) may indicate dysfunctional emotion regulation ability and a potential for developing depressive symptomology.
measurementStudies on mindfulness-based interventions (MBI) have found differences in gray matter (GM) volume and density in the orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) and lateral prefrontal cortex (PFC) in meditators compared to non-meditating controls using MRI.
claimMultiple Mindfulness-Based Intervention (MBI) studies, including research by Lazar et al. (2005), Pagnoni and Cekic (2007), Holzel et al. (2008, 2010, 2011b), Luders et al. (2009), Vestergaard-Poulsen et al. (2009), and Grant et al. (2010a), have found increases in gray matter (GM) volume and density in the hippocampus and posterior cingulate cortex (PCC) compared to non-meditating controls using voxel-based morphometry (VBM).
measurementAcross nine different Mindfulness-Based Intervention (MBI) studies, MRI research has found differences in gray matter (GM) volume and density in the dorsal and rostral anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) compared to non-meditating controls, suggesting a prominent role for the Frontoparietal Control Network (FPCN).
claimMeditators exhibit greater gray matter (GM) concentration in the hippocampus compared to non-meditators, which suggests enhanced circuitry for extinction learning and retention, according to studies by Holzel et al. (2008) and Luders et al. (2009).
The Difference Between The Male and Female Brain - The Renewal ... therenewalpoint.com 3 facts
claimThe higher ratio of white matter in women may explain their proficiency in multi-tasking, social logic, and memory of words and faces, while the higher ratio of grey matter in men may explain their stronger connection to spatial and conceptual activities and gross motor skills.
measurementWomen possess 10 times the amount of white matter as men, while men possess 7 times the amount of grey matter as women.
claimWhite matter in the brain handles and processes information, whereas grey matter is associated with task-orientation and action centers.
Battle of the Brain: Men Vs. Women [Infographic] nm.org 3 facts
claimGrey matter decreases during pregnancy, which contributes to the phenomenon known as 'pregnancy brain.'
claimWomen tend to use more white matter, which connects processing centers, while men tend to use more grey matter.
claimWomen have more grey matter in their brains, which contains cell bodies involved in muscle control and sensory perception.
Human body systems: Overview, anatomy, functions | Kenhub kenhub.com 3 facts
claimWhite matter in the human nervous system consists of axons that form neural pathways, serving as the conduit for instructions traveling from the gray matter toward organs.
claimIn the nervous system, gray matter generates instructions, while white matter serves as the pathway for those instructions to travel toward organs.
claimGray matter is composed of neuron cell bodies and is located in the cerebral cortex and the central portion of the spinal cord.
7 Major Organ Systems: Functions and Connections instituteofhumananatomy.com Nov 23, 2025 2 facts
claimThe human nervous system, when observed in cadavers, displays distinct natural color differences between gray matter (pinkish-gray) and white matter (creamy white).
referenceThe human spinal cord features an H-shaped gray matter core surrounded by white matter, with anterior horns dedicated to motor neurons and posterior horns dedicated to sensory processing.
The Difference Between Men and Women: Is It All in the Brain? southernregionalahec.org 1 fact
claimMale brains utilize more grey matter, which is associated with information and action-centered areas, when processing information, while female brains utilize more white matter, which governs higher-order reasoning and thinking.
Is There a Male Brain and a Female Brain? | Child & Family Blog childandfamilyblog.com 1 fact
claimBoys and men have a higher proportion of white matter than grey matter in their brains, but this proportion correlates with brain size.
Mens brain vs Womens brain - Facebook facebook.com Jan 19, 2024 1 fact
claimAccording to the study referenced in the 'Mens brain vs Womens brain' Facebook post, women possess more gray matter in their brains.