Effect of long-term meditation on cognitive status and selected neurophysiological parameters
Kumarangie Vithanage, Dilshani WN. Dissanayake, Thashi Chang
Heliyon May 14, 2026 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2026.e44986 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Observational cohort Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 60 |
| Population | Experienced long-term meditators and meditation-naïve controls |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Keywords | EEG Vep Cognition Ncs |
| Key findings | Long-term meditators had significantly higher scores on all cognitive domains and showed distinct neurophysiological changes compared to non-meditators. |
Abstract
Meditation is a self-entrainment of the mind impacting overall health. We evaluated the effect of long-term meditation on the cognitive status and selected neurophysiological parameters.Thirty experienced long-term meditators (LTM) and thirty matched meditation naïve controls (MNC) were selected. A validated Sinhala-version of the repeatable battery for the assessment of neuropsychological status (RBANS) was used to assess the cognitive status. EEG with 10-20 system was recorded for 20 min. EEG frequencies were analysed from six regions. Latencies of N75, P100, N145 were measured on visual evoked potentials (VEP) while median and tibial nerve conduction velocities and amplitudes were recorded via nerve conduction study (NCS).Sum of index scores of cognitive domains were higher among LTM (mean age 42.8; SD = 4.4 years) than MNC (mean age 42.6; SD = 4.4 years): immediate memory, LTM = 106.7 ± 12.4SD, MNC = 81.3 ± 17.9SD (p < 0.001); visuospatial, LTM = 116.2 ± 8.9SD, MNC = 78.3 ± 14.7SD (p < 0.001); language, LTM = 117 ± 9.35SD, MNC = 104 ± 8.5SD (p < 0.001); attention, LTM = 119.8 ± 16.8SD, MNC = 97.2 ± 17.2SD (p < 0.001); delayed memory, LTM = 112.5 ± 10.6SD, MNC = 81.5 ± 13.7SD (p < 0.001).In EEG, significantly higher alpha activity was observed among LTM (mean rank 36.8) at rest in right temporal region compared to MNC (mean rank 24.2) (p = 0.005). During meditation bilateral frontopolar region had most significant changes with LTM having predominant higher frequency wave activity compared to MNC.LTM had significantly higher conduction velocity (LTM 41.9 m/s, MNC 33.8 m/s, p < 0.001) and amplitude (LTM 6.7 mV, MNC 5.6 mV, p = 0.007) in tibial nerve NCS and significantly shorter latencies on VEP for all deflections.Long-term meditation enhances cognitive domains and produces significant changes in EEG frequencies, VEP and NCS.
Comparable studies
Other observational and cohort studies on meditation, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Using Self-Report Assessment Methods to Explore Facets of Mindfulness Undergraduate students | 2006 | Observational cohort | |
| Effectiveness of a meditation-based stress reduction program in the treatment of anxiety disorders Patients with generalized anxiety disorder or panic disorder with or without agoraphobia | 1992 | Observational cohort | n = 22 |
| Meditation experience is associated with increased cortical thickness Participants with extensive Insight meditation experience and matched controls | 2005 | Observational cohort | n = 20 |
| Meditation experience is associated with differences in default mode network activity and connectivity Experienced meditators and matched meditation-naive controls | 2011 | Observational cohort | |
| Long-term meditators self-induce high-amplitude gamma synchrony during mental practice Long-term Buddhist practitioners and controls | 2004 | Observational cohort |
Citations in the library
Cites 16
- A Randomized Controlled Trial of Mindfulness Meditation for Chronic Insomnia Sleep August 29, 2014
- AN ELECTROENCEPHALOGRAPHIC STUDY ON THE ZEN MEDITATION (ZAZEN) Psychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences December 1, 1966
- Long-Term and Meditation-Specific Modulations of Brain Connectivity Revealed Through Multivariate Pattern Analysis Brain Topography March 28, 2023
- The development of a tool to identify skilled meditators among meditation practitioners - ‘The University of Colombo Intake Interview to identify Skilled Meditators for scientific research (UoC-IISM)’ Journal of the College of Community Physicians January 8, 2024
- Meditative and Mindfulness-Focused Interventions in Neurology: Principles, Science, and Patient Selection. Seminars in neurology April 1, 2022
and 11 more in the library