How I rewired my brain in six weeks

A remarkable quality of human minds is their ability to adapt. This is rooted in neuroplasticity – the brain’s capacity to change its structure to support how we learn new skills, recover from setbacks and regulate difficult emotions. Yet stress and anxiety can restrict this flexibility. In the first episode of a four-part BBC News series, the science reporter Melissa Hogenboom explores how meditation might help create conditions in which neuroplasticity can thrive. Joining a six-week programme overseen by Thorsten Barnhofer, a professor of clinical psychology at the University of Surrey, she practises mindfulness for 30 minutes a day and undergoes brain scans before and after, revealing measurable structural changes. Drawing on insights from Barnhofer and other experts, the film offers an accessible look at how calming the nervous system can support a more adaptable, resilient brain.