Mindfulness-Based Intervention Effects on EEG and Executive Functions: A Systematic Review.
Gilberto Galindo-Aldana, Luis Arturo Montoya-Rivera, Jose Jaime Esqueda-Elizondo, Everardo Inzunza-Gonzalez, Enrique Efren Garcia-Guerrero, Alfredo Padilla-Lopez, Tara G Bautista, Cynthia Torres-González
Brain Sciences March 20, 2025 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci15030324 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Systematic review Qualitative Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Intervention | Mindfulness-based interventions |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Keywords | EEG Frontal alpha Social cognition Mindfulness mindfulness practices Mindfulness-based interventions Enhance executive function Improve cognitive skills Ability to focus Regulate emotions Interact socially Brain function |
| Citations | 3 |
| Key findings | Research on MBIs and their effects on executive function, social cognition, and EEG is scarce but suggests strong correlations on cognitive and electrophysiological alpha-beta proportions asymmetry on frontal areas, though average outcomes did not significantly differ from zero. |
Abstract
Background. Mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) have emerged as an alternative intervention for symptoms of psychological and psychiatric conditions, such as depression, anxiety, and emotional discomfort. Over the last ten years, MBIs have established a growing body of evidence that shows cognitive and neurophysiological benefits. Depression and anxiety are conditions with a high prevalence in the world population. In developing countries, it is reported that, given the conditions of being at a social disadvantage, anxiety and depression are higher, resulting in compromised psychological well-being and mental health. Objectives. This systematic review aims to quantitatively and qualitatively assess changes in the neuropsychological, particularly executive functioning and social cognition domains, and electroencephalographical (EEG) effects of MBIs. Methods. A systematic review was conducted using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) in three databases, Web of Science, Scopus, and EBSCO MedLine complete; 14,464 articles were found, 141 articles evaluated the effects of MBI on executive functioning, and 16 included both as in qualitative and quantitative variables. Results. The qualitative results show that the research on the effects of MBI on behavior and cognitive skills, including executive function, social cognition, and EEG analysis, is very scarce but consistent in suggesting strong correlations on cognitive and electrophysiological alpha-beta proportions asymmetry on frontal areas. Undoubtedly, executive functions, as a behavioral regulatory and self-monitoring system, are the most popular study of interest in the literature, including emotional regulation, awareness, planning, social skills, and focused attention. Although there are fewer studies assessing the effects of MBIs on social cognition skills. The funnel plot showed a symmetrical distribution but ranked out of significant correlation. Most estimates of treatment effects are positive (58%); however, the average outcome observed did not significantly differ from zero. Conclusions. This study concludes that the research integrating the analysis of the electrophysiological and executive function effects of MBI shows important methodological variations and clinical conditions, which explains the significant results reported individually. Even when most of the literature reports positive effects of MBIs on several behavioral and neurophysiological domains, there are still confounding factors that must be taken into consideration by researchers and clinicians before attributing possible inaccurate or generalizable benefits.
Comparable studies
Other systematic reviews and meta-analyses on meditation, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Meditation Programs for Psychological Stress and Well-being Diverse adult clinical populations | 2014 | Meta-analysis | n = 3,515 |
| Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction for Stress Management in Healthy People: A Review and Meta-Analysis Healthy subjects | 2009 | Systematic review and meta-analysis | |
| The psychological effects of meditation: A meta-analysis. Nonclinical groups of adult meditators | 2012 | Meta-analysis | n = 163 |
| Efficacy of Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy in Prevention of Depressive Relapse Adults with recurrent depression in full or partial remission | 2016 | Meta-analysis of individual patient data from randomized controlled trials | n = 1,258 |
| Mindfulness‐Based Stress Reduction and Mindfulness‐Based Cognitive Therapy – a systematic review of randomized controlled trials | 2011 | Systematic review |
Citations in the library
Cited by 4
- Mindfulness training combined with cold water immersion effects on mood and perception of executive functioning in middle-aged and older adults: a pilot study. Frontiers in Public Health 2025
- Effectiveness of ANAPANA Mindfulness Meditation on Sustained Attention, Academic Self-Regulation, and Academic Performance Among Middle School Students Advances in Computational Intelligence and Robotics June 18, 2026
- Investigating the Effect of the 6-Week Mindful Self-Compassion Program for Emerging Adults (EYL) on Stress Response, Brain Activity, and Self-Compassion Among Chinese University Students: An Electroencephalogram (EEG) Quasi-experimental Study Using Portable EEG Headband. Applied Psychophysiology and Biofeedback April 21, 2026
- Electroencephalography-Based Measures to Understand Meditation and Mindfulness: Bibliometric Scoping Review of Randomized Controlled Trials. Global Advances in Integrative Medicine and Health 2026
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- A systematic review of the neurophysiology of mindfulness on EEG oscillations Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews 2015
- Neural mechanisms of symptom improvements in generalized anxiety disorder following mindfulness training NeuroImage: Clinical 2013
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