EEG Activation During a Mindfulness Session and Its Effects on Memory Encoding

Abstract

This paper investigates the potential impact of a single mindfulness session on explicit memory recall, employing quantitative electroencephalography (qEEG) to compare a study group to a control group. Phase synchronization in alpha, theta, and gamma frequency bands across various brain regions involved in memory processes was analyzed. Twenty-eight adults, balanced in gender and age, participated in both groups. Memory encoding and retrieval were assessed using word lists presented over four successive sections, with EEG recordings taken before, during, and after mindfulness sessions. Results revealed increased theta and decreased gamma band activation in the right hemisphere during mindfulness, with synchronization between temporal and parietal cortices and frontal cortex during encoding. Higher gamma activation in specific brain regions correlated with better recall. While the study group showed no significant decline in posttest scores compared to controls, suggesting mindfulness may serve as a protective factor in free recall, further research with larger datasets is needed for validation.