The man giving the talk, Matthieu Ricard, is a scientist turned monk whose brain has been studied for the effects of meditation. The results were that you can change your mind's biology through meditation.

Mr. Ricard says, "The mind is malleable, our life can be greatly transformed by even a minimal change in how we manage our thoughts and perceive and interpret the world. Happiness is a skill. It requires effort and time."

Perhaps other brain functions can be enhanced as well.

-- JustinColannino - 17 Jan 2008

Our neurology is freaking amazing, I mean it would be bizarre if our brain couldn't adapt. One of my favorite anecdotes is how they found that London taxi drivers actually have a observably larger hippocampus as a result of having to navigate through (and maintain mental maps of) London.

-- TheodoreSmith - 18 Jan 2008

Also- here is another link to a study showing the effect of transcendental meditation on intelligence in a group of high school students... link

-- TheodoreSmith - 18 Jan 2008