Why is mindfulness helpful? Exploration of the flexibility of cortical control in practitioners of Buddhism.
Consciousness and cognition June 28, 2025 Jei-Yi Lu, Chih-Chieh Chang, Tzu-Ling Chang et al. 1 citation
Buddhist meditation practitioners show greater mental flexibility, measured by a new alpha brainwave transformation index, compared to nonpractitioners. Twenty-eight practitioners and 28 nonpractitioners completed an EEG neurofeedback task requiring them to voluntarily control the appearance and disappearance of a signal based on their alpha brainwave state. Practitioners had a significantly higher alpha transformation index, indicating better ability to switch between mental states, along with higher self-esteem, life satisfaction, and lower negative affect, after controlling for age and gender. The alpha transformation index also correlated positively with mindfulness levels and life satisfaction, suggesting mindfulness may enhance neural efficiency and mental flexibility.