Meditation-type specific reduction in infra-slow activity of electroencephalogram.

Experienced meditators from Vipassana, Himalayan Yoga, and Isha Shoonya traditions show reduced amplitude of infra-slow EEG activity (ISA, <0.1 Hz) compared to novices, especially in the 0.03-0.08 Hz band. For Vipassana meditators, this decrease was most pronounced in the left-frontal region and was accompanied by reduced phase-amplitude coupling between ISA phase and alpha band (8-12 Hz) amplitude, indicating decreased fluctuations in neural excitability. The findings suggest that meditation reduces ISA amplitude and its influence on neural excitability, potentially linking to stress reduction.

Study at a glance

Abstract

Meditation is renowned for its positive effects on cognitive abilities and stress reduction. It has been reported that the amplitude of electroencephalographic (EEG) infra-slow activity (ISA, < 0.1 Hz) is reduced as the stress level decreases. Consequently, we aimed to determine if EEG ISA amplitude decreases as a result of meditation practice across various traditions. To this end, we analyzed an open dataset comprising EEG data acquired during meditation sessions from experienced practitioners in the Vipassana tradition-which integrates elements of focused attention and open monitoring, akin to mindfulness meditation-and in the Himalayan Yoga and Isha Shoonya traditions, which emphasize focused attention and open monitoring, respectively. A general trend was observed where EEG ISA amplitude tended to decrease in experienced meditators from these traditions compared to novices, particularly significant in the 0.03-0.08 Hz band for Vipassana meditators. Therefore, our analysis focused on this ISA frequency band. Specifically, a notable decrease in EEG ISA amplitude was observed in Vipassana meditators, predominantly in the left-frontal region. This reduction in EEG ISA amplitude was also accompanied by a decrease in phase-amplitude coupling (PAC) between the ISA phase and alpha band (8-12 Hz) amplitude, which implied decreased neural excitability fluctuations. Our findings suggest that not only does EEG ISA amplitude decrease in experienced meditators from traditions that incorporate both focused attention and open monitoring, but this decrease may also signify a diminished influence of neural excitability fluctuations attributed to ISA.