Differences in frontal EEG asymmetry during emotion regulation between high and low mindfulness adolescents.
Biological Psychology December 3, 2020 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsycho.2020.107990 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Observational study comparing groups Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 45 |
| Population | Adolescents (mean age about 12.3-12.5 years) classified as high or low in trait mindfulness |
| Measures | frontal EEG asymmetry, Reactivity and Regulation-Image Task |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Key findings | High-mindfulness adolescents showed greater left relative to right frontal EEG asymmetry than low-mindfulness adolescents during both down-regulation and up-regulation of emotion, with no group difference in a non-regulation condition. In the up-regulation condition, negative stimuli elicited greater right relative to left asymmetry than neutral stimuli. The authors argue these results provide neurological evidence that trait mindfulness is related to emotion regulation. |
Abstract
The present study examined the differences in frontal EEG asymmetry during emotion regulation between participants who had different levels of trait mindfulness. EEG recordings were taken from 23 high mindfulness adolescents (Mage = 12.34) and 22 low mindfulness adolescents (Mage = 12.53) during the Reactivity and Regulation-Image Task. The results showed that (1) high mindfulness adolescents had greater left (relative to right) asymmetry than low mindfulness adolescents in down-regulation and up-regulation conditions; however, there was no significant difference in the non-regulation condition; (2) In the up-regulating condition, adolescents showed greater right (relative to left) asymmetry for negative stimuli compared to neutral stimuli; however, there was no significant difference in down-regulation and non-regulation conditions. The results provide neurological evidence that trait mindfulness was highly related to the regulation of emotions and affects how emotions are processed.
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 9
- Mindfulness-Based Intervention Effects on EEG and Executive Functions: A Systematic Review. Brain Sciences March 20, 2025
- Shared neural mechanisms of trait mindfulness and hypnotic susceptibility: A scoping review toward a unifying predictive coding framework. Brain Research Bulletin June 27, 2026
- Exploring within and between associations of momentary mindfulness and emotion regulation and the moderating effects of mental health among adolescents. Journal of Research on Adolescence March 1, 2026
- Determining the depth of meditation through frontal alpha asymmetry. Frontiers in Human Neuroscience 2025
- Dispositional mindfulness: Dissociable affective and cognitive processes. Psychonomic Bulletin & Review February 1, 2024
and 4 more in the library
Cites 13
- Using Self-Report Assessment Methods to Explore Facets of Mindfulness Assessment January 27, 2006
- Alterations in Brain and Immune Function Produced by Mindfulness Meditation Psychosomatic Medicine July 1, 2003
- Mindfulness Training for Elementary School Students Journal of Applied School Psychology July 6, 2005
- The “What” and the “How” of Dispositional Mindfulness Assessment May 14, 2012
- Mechanisms of Mindfulness in the General Population Mindfulness July 1, 2018
and 8 more in the library