Mindfulness meditation is associated with global EEG spectral changes in theta, alpha, and beta amplitudes.
International Journal of Psychophysiology November 1, 2024 Alexander T. Duda, A. Clarke, Robert J. Barry et al.
Breath-focused mindfulness meditation, practiced daily for six weeks, alters brain wave patterns related to attention and awareness. In a randomized trial with 40 novice meditators, those who meditated daily showed a smaller reduction in alpha brain waves during meditation compared to rest, while a control group listening to classical music did not. Theta waves increased over time in both groups. Beta waves remained stable in the meditation group but varied in the control group. No changes were seen in delta or gamma waves. The findings suggest that regular mindfulness practice may sharpen attention by stabilizing certain neural oscillations, though more research is needed to link these changes to health benefits.