EEG alpha–theta dynamics during mind wandering in the context of breath focus meditation: An experience sampling approach with novice meditation practitioners
Julio Rodriguez-Larios, Kaat Alaerts
European Journal of Neuroscience March 1, 2021 DOI: 10.1111/ejn.15073 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Within-subjects experimental study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 25 |
| Population | Novice meditation practitioners |
| Intervention | breath focus meditation |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Citations | 7 |
| Key findings | Mind wandering during breath focus meditation is associated with increased amplitude and decreased frequency of theta oscillations, and decreased amplitude and increased frequency of alpha oscillations, along with increased harmonicity and phase synchrony between these rhythms. |
Abstract
Abstract Meditation practice entails moments of distraction dominated by self‐generated thoughts (i.e. mind wandering). Initial studies assessing the neural correlates of mind wandering in the context of meditation practice have identified an important role of theta (4–8 Hz) and alpha (8–14 Hz) neural oscillations. In this study, we use a probe‐caught experience sampling paradigm to assess spectral changes in the theta‐alpha frequency range during mind wandering in the context of breath focus meditation. Electroencephalography (EEG) was measured in 25 novice meditation practitioners during a breath focus task in which they were repeatedly probed to report whether they were focusing on their breath or thinking about something else. Mind wandering episodes were associated with an increase in the amplitude and a decrease in the frequency of theta (4–8 Hz) oscillations. Conversely, alpha oscillations (8–14 Hz) were shown to decrease in amplitude and increase in frequency during mind wandering relative to breath focus. In addition, mind wandering episodes were shown to be accompanied by increased harmonicity and phase synchrony between alpha and theta rhythms. Because similar spectral changes in the theta‐alpha frequency range have been reported during controlled cognitive processes involving memory and executive control, we speculate that mind wandering and controlled processes could share some neurocognitive mechanisms. From a translational perspective, this study indicates that oscillatory activity in the theta‐alpha frequency range could form adequate parameters for developing EEG‐neurofeedback protocols aimed at facilitating the detection of mind wandering during meditation practice.
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 23
- Bridging the gap of brain and experience - Converging Neurophenomenology with Spatiotemporal Neuroscience. Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews June 1, 2025
- Subjective Experiences of Committed Meditators Across Practices Aiming for Contentless States Mindfulness June 1, 2023
- Neurobehavioural Correlates of Breath Meditation in Novice Adolescents: Insights from Anapanasati-based Paradigm. Annals of Neurosciences April 2, 2025
- Neurobehavioural Exploration of Breath-counting & Breath-awareness in Novice Indian Meditators: A Naturalised Ānāpānasati-based Paradigmatic Approach. Annals of Neurosciences January 21, 2025
- Neurophysiological mechanisms of focused attention meditation: A scoping systematic review Imaging Neuroscience 2025
and 18 more in the library
Cites 14
- Investigating the phenomenological matrix of mindfulness-related practices from a neurocognitive perspective. American Psychologist October 1, 2015
- The wandering brain: Meta-analysis of functional neuroimaging studies of mind-wandering and related spontaneous thought processes Neuroimage February 25, 2015
- A systematic review of the neurophysiology of mindfulness on EEG oscillations Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews 2015
- Dreaming as mind wandering: evidence from functional neuroimaging and first-person content reports. Frontiers in Human Neuroscience 2013
- Review of the Neural Oscillations Underlying Meditation Frontiers in Neuroscience March 26, 2018
and 9 more in the library