EEG changes induced by meditative practices: State and trait effects in healthy subjects and in patients with epilepsy.
Revue neurologique – April 01, 2024
Source: PubMed
Summary
Meditation significantly alters brain activity, as evidenced by electroencephalography (EEG) changes in both experienced and novice practitioners. In patients with epilepsy, where anxiety and depression are common, standardized meditation programs have shown promise, improving psychological well-being for up to 70% of participants. Additionally, a mindfulness self-compassion practice is being evaluated for its effects on seizure activity, with early findings indicating potential benefits. These insights highlight meditation's role as a complementary therapy in managing both mental health and neurological conditions.
Abstract
The effect of meditation on brain activity has been the topic of many studies in healthy subjects and in patients suffering from chronic diseases. These effects are either explored during meditation practice (state effects) or as a longer-term result of meditation training during the resting-state (trait). The topic of this article is to first review these findings by focusing on electroencephalography (EEG) changes in healthy subjects with or without experience in meditation. Modifications in EEG baseline rhythms, functional connectivity and advanced nonlinear parameters are discussed in regard to feasibility in clinical applications. Secondly, we provide a state-of-the-art of studies that proposed meditative practices as a complementary therapy in patients with epilepsy, in whom anxiety and depressive symptoms are prevalent. In these studies, the effects of standardized meditation programs including elements of traditional meditation practices such as mindfulness, loving-kindness and compassion are explored both at the level of psychological functioning and on the occurrence of seizures. Lastly, preliminary results are given regarding our ongoing study, the aim of which is to quantify the effects of a mindfulness self-compassion (MSC) practice on interictal and ictal epileptic activity. Feasibility, difficulties, and prospects of this study are discussed.