EEG oscillatory correlates of meditation practice: a systematic review and exploratory meta-analysis.
Neuroscience July 6, 2026 Tingting Yan, Yanping Wei, Fengji Geng et al.
Meditation practice is linked to changes in brain electrical activity measured by EEG, but results across studies vary. This systematic review and meta-analysis found significant positive effects for alpha, beta, and gamma brain waves, but no significant effect for theta waves. The measurement state—whether brain activity was recorded during meditation versus rest—was a potential moderator, but this finding was not robust. Meditation type, practitioner expertise, and EEG frequency band did not significantly explain differences. Exploratory analysis suggested a modest link between longer practice duration and larger theta-wave effects, but this is uncertain due to uneven data and mostly cross-sectional studies. The findings highlight the need for standardized longitudinal research.