During meditation, experienced meditators show more integrated brain networks in the alpha frequency band (8-13 Hz) than novice meditators. EEG measures of network integration—maximum betweenness centrality and leaf fraction—were higher in experienced meditators, while diameter and average eccentricity were lower, indicating more efficient network topology. No differences were found in theta or beta bands. The findings suggest that long-term meditation practice is associated with greater functional integration of alpha-band brain networks.
In both novice and experienced meditators, decreased activity in the posterior cingulate cortex (PCC) corresponded with the subjective experience of effortless awareness during meditation. Participants could volitionally control the PCC signal in the direction associated with that state. Novice meditators achieved the target state a median of 77.97% of the time, and experienced meditators a median of 89.83% of the time. Median confidence ratings linking PCC activity to effortless awareness were 8 out of 10 for novices and 9 for experienced meditators. The findings suggest EEG neurofeedback from the PCC could serve as a tool for meditation training.