Skin Conductance Feedback Meditation: Evaluation of a Novel Physiology-Assisted Meditation Style
Thilo Hinterberger, Felicitas Baierlein, Natalie Breitenbach
Complementary Medicine Research 2018 DOI: 10.1159/000489342 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Within-subjects experimental comparison Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 30 |
| Population | 15 meditation experts and 15 non-meditators |
| Intervention | Mindfulness meditation (MM) |
| Duration | 6 sessions over 3 days (4 SCFM and 2 MM sessions) |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Key findings | Skin conductance feedback meditation (SCFM) produced high rates of positive subjective effects (78.3% felt more integrated, 84.2% more calm, 50% vitalized) and was not significantly different from ordinary mindfulness meditation. |
Abstract
Background: Mindfulness meditation (MM) can be regarded as a practice for calming the mind, while the focus on their breathing can help meditators maintain a state of mindful presence. We have developed and evaluated an alternative method for reaching conscious states of pure being without the aid of a focus of attention.
Methods: Skin conductance feedback was provided in real-time during meditation sessions (SCFM) and the practicability of this novel approach was evaluated. 30 participants - 15 meditation experts and 15 non-meditators - attended 6 sessions of meditation over the course of 3 days; 4 SCFM and 2 ordinary MM sessions were conducted. Each session was evaluated with physiological measures and a feedback questionnaire assessing subjective changes in body-related, emotional, and mental self-perception.
Results: On average, 78.3% of the participants felt more integrated and connected, 84.2% perceived themselves as more calm and balanced, and 50% felt vitalized after SCFM sessions, while only 5% or less felt more agitated or depressed after the sessions. SCFM was not significantly different from MM. The positive effect of SCFM correlated positively with mindfulness self-ratings.
Conclusion: The study demonstrates that SCFM is a viable method for performing a satisfying and consciousness-expanding meditation session.
Comparable studies
Other experimental studies on meditation, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| The benefits of being present: Mindfulness and its role in psychological well-being. Cancer patients (clinical intervention study) | 2003 | Mixed methods: scale development, correlational, quasi-experimental, laboratory, experience-sampling, and clinical intervention study | |
| Loving-kindness meditation increases social connectedness. | 2008 | Controlled laboratory experiment | |
| Mindfulness and mind-wandering: Finding convergence through opposing constructs. | 2012 | Two studies: correlational study and experimental study | |
| Mental Training Enhances Attentional Stability: Neural and Behavioral Evidence | 2009 | Experimental study | |
| Mindfulness meditation and substance use in an incarcerated population. Incarcerated population | 2006 | Quasi-experimental with treatment-as-usual control condition |
Citations in the library
Cited by 4
- Human-Computer Co-Regulation: A Review of Biofeedback for Meditative Practice Proceedings of the ACM on Interactive Mobile Wearable and Ubiquitous Technologies September 30, 2026
- Evaluation of facial temperature distribution changes during meditation using infrared thermal imaging: An experimental, cross-over study Journal of Traditional Chinese Medical Sciences July 27, 2023
- Cortical and autonomic responses during staged Taoist meditation: two distinct meditation strategies bioRxiv Preprint Server November 8, 2021
- Rhythmic Mechanical Body Stimulation Improves Physical and Mental Wellbeing and Alters States of Consciousness American Journal of Biomedical Science & Research June 12, 2020