Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews
January 1, 2015
Tim Lomas, Itai Ivtzan, Cynthia H.Y. Fu
510 citations
Mindfulness meditation is linked to increased alpha and theta brain wave power compared to resting with eyes closed, suggesting a state of relaxed alertness that may benefit mental health. A systematic review of 56 studies involving 1,358 healthy individuals and 357 people with psychiatric diagnoses found that enhanced alpha and theta power was the most common pattern, though not uniformly reported. No consistent changes were seen in beta, delta, or gamma brain waves. The co-occurrence of elevated alpha and theta may indicate a beneficial mental state conducive to psychological health.
Frontiers in Psychology
October 6, 2021
Paul T. P. Wong, Gökmen Arslan, Victoria L. Bowers et al.
80 citations
During the COVID-19 pandemic, cultivating self-transcendence—connecting with the true self, others, and something larger—offers a promising path to personal growth and mental health. The paper explains self-transcendence using Frankl's model and Wong's extension, reviews relevant literature, and presents the Self-Transcendence Measure-Brief (STM-B) along with its psychometric history. Empirical evidence indicates that self-transcendence served as a buffer against pandemic suffering, suggesting that fostering this quality can help overcome mental health crises in difficult times.
International Journal of Complementary & Alternative Medicine
January 1, 2018
Itai Ivtzan
19 citations
Loving-kindness meditation (LKM) training increased psychological resilience and reduced depression, anxiety, and stress among employees at Microsoft Corporation in the United Kingdom. Over a seven-week intervention, 13 employees who practiced LKM showed significant improvements, while a wait-list control group of 15 employees showed no significant changes. The results suggest that LKM is an effective strategy for building resilience and improving employee adaptability to workplace stress.