Quantitative EEG Study on Zen Meditation (Zazen)
Psychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences December 1, 1994 Tetsuhito Murata, Yoshifumi Koshino, Masao Omori et al. 38 citations
During Zen meditation (Zazen), slow alpha brain waves appeared in most subjects regardless of meditation experience, but theta waves appeared only in monks (priests and disciples), predominantly in the frontal region. The frequency of theta waves increased with more years of Zen training. In experienced monks, theta 2–3 (6.0–8.0 Hz) waves increased while the increase in alpha 2 (9.0–10.0 Hz) waves was attenuated over the course of meditation. These EEG changes may reflect a mental state of relaxation combined with heightened consciousness induced by Zazen.