Neurophysiological Effects of Om Meditation: Evidence from EEG Studies

A systematic review of 11 EEG studies on Om meditation found that the most consistent brain change is modulation of theta-band activity (4–7 Hz), often accompanied by alpha changes indicating a relaxed yet attentive state. Most studies involved short, single sessions of 3–30 minutes in healthy students. Spatial EEG showed engagement of orbitofrontal, limbic, attentional networks, and the Default Mode Network. Delta-band findings were inconsistent. EEG microstate analyses showed no significant changes after short-term practice. The evidence suggests short-term Om meditation is associated with reproducible theta-band modulation and distributed cortical networks linked to relaxation and internalized attention, but larger, longitudinal randomized trials are needed.

Study at a glance

Abstract

Abstract Om meditation is a widely practiced mantra-based technique within yogic traditions and has increasingly been examined using electroencephalography (EEG). However, EEG findings related to Om meditation remain methodologically diverse and have not been comprehensively synthesized. This review aimed to systematically examine and integrate EEG-based evidence on the neurophysiological effects of Om meditation. A systematic search was performed on PubMed, Web of Science, and Google Scholar (August 22, 2025) using terms related to Om meditation and EEG. Inclusion criteria comprised experimental studies assessing Om chanting or meditation with EEG-based brain functions. Out of 56 identified records, 11 studies fulfilled eligibility. Data were extracted following the population, intervention, comparison, and outcome framework. Most studies involved short, single-session Om meditation (3–30 min) in healthy student populations. Theta band modulation (4–7 Hz) was the most consistent EEG finding, often accompanied by alpha changes indicative of a relaxed yet attentive state. Delta band findings were inconsistent and varied by chanting modality and sensory conditions. Spatial EEG studies reported engagement of orbitofrontal, limbic, attentional networks, and the Default Mode Network. EEG microstate analyses showed no significant changes following short-term practice. Short-term Om meditation is associated with reproducible theta-band modulation and engagement of distributed cortical networks associated with relaxation and internalised attention. However, larger sample sizes, longitudinal randomized controlled trials, and the use of advanced EEG methods are required in the future.