Mindfulness meditation alters alpha amplitude without affecting arousal.
International journal of psychophysiology : official journal of the International Organization of Psychophysiology June 14, 2025 Alexander T. Duda, Adam R. Clarke, Robert J. Barry et al. 3 citations
Mindfulness of breathing meditation reduces alpha brainwave activity (8-13 Hz) compared to resting, likely reflecting enhanced attentional engagement rather than a change in physiological arousal. In 42 young adults, electroencephalography and skin conductance were recorded during rest and meditation before and after six weeks of daily 15-minute mindfulness or music (active-control) practice. Post-training, the mindfulness group showed a smaller alpha reduction during meditation, particularly in frontal/posterior regions, suggesting a possible trait effect. Skin conductance decreased in both groups post-training, indicating reduced arousal, but no significant link was found between skin conductance and alpha amplitude. These findings support mindfulness meditation as a state of relaxed alertness and highlight alpha band activity's role in attentional control, which may contribute to health benefits like improved emotional regulation and cognitive functioning.