Intensive training induces longitudinal changes in meditation state-related EEG oscillatory activity.
Manish Saggar, Brandon G King, Anthony P Zanesco, Katherine A Maclean, Stephen R Aichele, Tonya L Jacobs, David A Bridwell, Phillip R Shaver, Erika L Rosenberg, Baljinder K Sahdra, Emilio Ferrer, Akaysha C Tang, George R Mangun, B Alan Wallace, Risto Miikkulainen, Clifford D Saron
Frontiers in human neuroscience January 1, 2012 DOI: 10.3389/fnhum.2012.00256 via PubMed
Summary
AI-generated from the abstractIntensive meditation training produces replicable changes in brainwave activity. In a controlled study, participants who practiced focused attention meditation for three months showed reduced beta-band power over anterior and posterior scalp regions during meditation, compared to a wait-list group that later received identical training. Individual alpha frequency also decreased across both retreats, and the decrease was directly related to the amount of meditation practice. These longitudinal changes in brain oscillatory activity help explain how meditation may support long-term improvements in attention and cognition.
Study at a glance
| Characteristics | Longitudinal wait-list controlled study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Population | Retreat participants practicing focused attention meditation |
| Duration | Three months |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Keywords | EEG Attention Beta Individual alpha frequency Meditation training |
| Citations | 136 |
| Key finding | Meditation training led to replicable reductions in beta-band power and decreases in individual alpha frequency, with the latter directly related to practice amount. |
Abstract
The capacity to focus one's attention for an extended period of time can be increased through training in contemplative practices. However, the cognitive processes engaged during meditation that support trait changes in cognition are not well characterized. We conducted a longitudinal wait-list controlled study of intensive meditation training. Retreat participants practiced focused attention (FA) meditation techniques for three months during an initial retreat. Wait-list participants later undertook formally identical training during a second retreat. Dense-array scalp-recorded electroencephalogram (EEG) data were collected during 6 min of mindfulness of breathing meditation at three assessment points during each retreat. Second-order blind source separation, along with a novel semi-automatic artifact removal tool (SMART), was used for data preprocessing. We observed replicable reductions in meditative state-related beta-band power bilaterally over anteriocentral and posterior scalp regions. In addition, individual alpha frequency (IAF) decreased across both retreats and in direct relation to the amount of meditative practice. These findings provide evidence for replicable longitudinal changes in brain oscillatory activity during meditation and increase our understanding of the cortical processes engaged during meditation that may support long-term improvements in cognition.