bioRxiv Preprint Server
October 23, 2020
Julio Rodriguez-Larios, Kaat Alaerts
7 citations
preprint
Mind wandering during breath focus meditation is linked to specific changes in brain waves. In 25 novice meditators, episodes of mind wandering showed increased amplitude and decreased frequency of theta oscillations (4-8 Hz), while alpha oscillations (8-14 Hz) decreased in amplitude and increased in frequency. Mind wandering also involved greater harmonicity and phase synchrony between theta and alpha rhythms. These spectral changes resemble those seen in controlled cognitive processes like memory and executive control, suggesting shared neurocognitive mechanisms. The findings indicate that theta-alpha oscillatory activity could serve as a basis for EEG-neurofeedback protocols to detect mind wandering during meditation.
bioRxiv Preprint Server
March 27, 2022
Yiqing Lu, Julio Rodriguez-Larios
2 citations
preprint
During breath focus meditation, novice practitioners often experience mind wandering. Previous EEG studies using linear metrics have produced inconsistent results. This study assessed whether nonlinear EEG signatures could characterize mind wandering. Twenty-five participants were interrupted during meditation to report whether they were focusing on the breath or thinking about something else. EEG complexity was measured using three algorithms: Higuchi’s fractal dimension, Lempel-Ziv complexity, and sample entropy. EEG complexity was generally reduced during mind wandering compared to breath focus states. The authors conclude that EEG complexity metrics can distinguish mind wandering from breath focus in novice practitioners and could be used in future EEG neurofeedback protocols.
bioRxiv Preprint Server
July 6, 2021
Julio Rodriguez-Larios, Eduardo A. Bracho Montes de Oca, Kaat Alaerts
preprint
Experienced meditators report greater focus and less mind wandering during meditation than non-meditators, and these differences are reflected in their brain activity. In a study of 29 experienced meditators and 29 non-meditators, EEG recordings during rest and breath-focus meditations showed that meditators, but not controls, had a significant decrease in individual alpha frequency and amplitude and a steeper 1/f slope during meditation compared to rest. Controls, but not meditators, showed increased alpha amplitude during mind wandering relative to breath focus. The findings indicate that meditation training alters both the subjective experience and the oscillatory and non-oscillatory components of brain activity.
bioRxiv Preprint Server
February 26, 2026
Angqi Li, Julio Rodriguez-Larios, Mengsen Zhang et al.
preprint
Two types of mantra meditation produce distinct brain activity patterns. Novice practitioners were randomly assigned to chant either the Hare Krishna (HK) or Sa-Ta-Na-Ma (SA) mantra. EEG measurements showed that HK meditation led to widespread decreases in alpha power and increases in alpha frequency during and after practice, suggesting a more activating, attentionally focused state. In contrast, SA meditation produced localized alpha power reduction and, after training, a significant decrease in alpha frequency, indicating a more relaxed state. Both groups reported reduced stress. These results challenge the idea that all mantra meditation is the same and underscore the need to differentiate practices for targeted mental health applications.