Exploration of Brain Network Measures Across Three Meditation Traditions
Pankaj Pandey, Pragati Gupta, Krishna Prasad Miyapuram
NeuroRegulation September 29, 2022 DOI: 10.15540/nr.9.3.113 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Observational study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Population | Meditators from Himalayan Yoga, Isha Shoonya, and Vipassana traditions, and a control group |
| Topics | Default mode network Meditation |
| Keywords | Electroencephalography Modularity biology Cognitive psychology Functional connectivity |
| Citations | 10 |
| Key findings | Distinct EEG functional connectivity patterns differentiate three meditation traditions, with maximum classification accuracy of 90% in the alpha band for Isha Shoonya. |
Abstract
Research into the similarities and differences between various forms of meditation practice is still in its early stages. Here, utilizing functional connectivity and graph measures, we present our work examining three meditation traditions: Himalayan Yoga (HT), Isha Shoonya (SNY), and Vipassana (VIP). EEG activity of the meditative block is used to build functional brain connections to exploit the resulting networks between various meditation traditions and a control group. Support vector machine is employed for binary classification, and models are built with features generated via graph theory measures. We obtain maximum accuracy of 84.76% with gamma1, 90% with alpha, and 84.76% with theta in HT, SNY, and VIP, respectively. Our key findings involve (a) higher delta connectivity in Vipassana meditators, (b) synchronization of theta networks in the left hemisphere inspected to be stronger in the anterior frontal area across meditators, (c) greater involvement of gamma2 processing observed among Himalayan and Vipassana meditators, (d) increased left frontal activity contribution for all meditators in theta and gamma bands, and (e) modularity engaged extensively in gamma processing across all meditation traditions. Furthermore, we discuss the implication of this research for neurotechnology products to enable guided meditation among naive practitioners.
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
Cited by 8
- Neurophysiological mechanisms of focused attention meditation: A scoping systematic review Imaging Neuroscience 2025
- Similar States, Different Paths: Neurodynamics of diverse meditation techniques bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory) June 26, 2025
- Heartfulness Meditation-induced State and Trait Effects on Long-term, Short-term and Non-meditators Using Connectivity Analysis: An EEG Study on Prefrontal Cortex Annals of Neurosciences August 31, 2026
- A Unifying Framework of Meditation Techniques Mindfulness February 1, 2026
- Meditation-induced cognitive state classification using sparse brain connectivity features and electroencephalography Intelligent Data Analysis September 17, 2025
and 3 more in the library
Cites 18
- The neuroscience of meditation: classification, phenomenology, correlates, and mechanisms. Progress in Brain Research 2019
- Experienced Mindfulness Meditators Exhibit Higher Parietal-Occipital EEG Gamma Activity during NREM Sleep PLoS One August 28, 2013
- Meditation Increases the Entropy of Brain Oscillatory Activity Neuroscience February 4, 2020
- Meditation is associated with increased brain network integration. Neuroimage September 1, 2017
- The Influence of Buddhist Meditation Traditions on the Autonomic System and Attention BioMed Research International 2015
and 13 more in the library