Electrophysiological correlates of zen meditation: An investigation using in-monastery EEG acquisition
Biological Psychology October 1, 2025 Magdalena Kurek, Joanna Różycka‐Tran, Stanisław Radoń et al. 3 citations
During Zen meditation in a monastic setting, experienced Vietnamese monks showed significantly higher alpha and theta brainwave power than non-meditating controls, with no change in beta power. This pattern differs from mindfulness practices, where beta power often decreases. Among monks, brain activity did not differ between meditation and mind-wandering states, nor between brief 4-minute and extended 1.5-hour sessions, indicating a continuity of meditative and non-meditative states in advanced practitioners. The findings suggest Zen meditation fosters a distinct state combining relaxation and sustained alertness, and demonstrate the feasibility of mobile EEG technology for in-situ research.