Exploring EEG biomarkers in meditation, yoga, and mantra practices: a review of neural correlates and methodologies
Neural Computing and Applications March 5, 2026 DOI: 10.1007/s00521-026-12026-x (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Review Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Topics | Meditation |
| Keywords | Brief EEG Features Mantra Ml Relaxation Stimuli |
| Key findings | The review provides a systematic framework linking EEG activity to relaxation from traditional practices, identifies gaps in the literature, and highlights the relationship between mantras and EEG parameters along with classification techniques. |
Abstract
Studying EEG oscillations has attracted significant attention due to their potential impact on physiological, cognitive, psychomotor, and psycho-emotional aspects of human life. However, there is no consensus on what constitutes “EEG activity” or which indices best characterize it, particularly in the context of relaxation brought about by mantras, yoga, and meditation. This review provides a systematic framework linking EEG to relaxation from traditional healing practices. It defines EEG activity and investigates individual band activity associated with relaxation. Additionally, a gap analysis of EEG literature in this domain is conducted. By reading this review, one may gain comprehensive knowledge of the entire process of EEG-based research, including methodologies, analysis techniques, and potential applications for understanding relaxation and its effects on well-being. Notably, this work introduces a unique perspective by integrating traditional practices with modern EEG research, filling a crucial gap in the existing literature. Furthermore, it highlights the relationship between mantras and EEG parameters, as well as various classification techniques utilized in EEG studies, emphasizing their preprocessing steps, relaxation features, classification methods, and achieved accuracy.
Comparable studies
Other narrative reviews on meditation, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mindfulness training as a clinical intervention: A conceptual and empirical review. Clinical populations | 2003 | Review | |
| Mindfulness: Theoretical Foundations and Evidence for its Salutary Effects | 2007 | Review | |
| Mindfulness Interventions | 2016 | Review | |
| Mind the Hype: A Critical Evaluation and Prescriptive Agenda for Research on Mindfulness and Meditation | 2017 | Review | |
| Mindfulness and acceptance: expanding the cognitive-behavioral tradition | 2005 | Review |
Citations in the library
Cites 26
- The benefits of being present: Mindfulness and its role in psychological well-being. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology 2003
- Quantitative change of EEG and respiration signals during mindfulness meditation Journal of NeuroEngineering and Rehabilitation May 14, 2014
- Intensive training induces longitudinal changes in meditation state-related EEG oscillatory activity. Frontiers in Human Neuroscience 2012
- Mind and body connection in expert meditators: a computational study based on central and peripheral nervous system BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies March 7, 2024
- Novel machine learning-driven comparative analysis of CSP, STFT, and CSP-STFT fusion for EEG data classification across multiple meditation and non-meditation sessions in BCI pipeline Brain Informatics February 8, 2025
and 21 more in the library