How does meditation improve brain function?

Relaxes you: Same effect from sitting quietly.

Growing evidence: Growing evidence shows that meditation not only impacts brain function, but actual physical structure. In people who meditate consistently, the amygdala (the brain's emotional "alarm" system) decreases in size, and the prefrontal cortex increases in thickness. Emotion regulation improves, along with ability for cognitive reappraisal & empathy. Relaxation alone does not explain these changes.