Neurophysiological Effects of Om Meditation: Evidence from EEG Studies
Rupesh Kumar, Suresh Lal Barnwal, Sridip Chatterjee
International Journal of Yoga June 25, 2026 DOI: 10.4103/ijoy.ijoy_264_25 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Systematic review Randomized Longitudinal Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Duration | Single session, 3–30 minutes |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Key findings | Theta band modulation (4–7 Hz) is the most consistent EEG finding during short-term Om meditation, often with alpha changes indicating a relaxed yet attentive state. |
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.
Comparable studies
Other systematic reviews and meta-analyses on meditation, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Meditation Programs for Psychological Stress and Well-being Diverse adult clinical populations | 2014 | Meta-analysis | n = 3,515 |
| Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction for Stress Management in Healthy People: A Review and Meta-Analysis Healthy subjects | 2009 | Systematic review and meta-analysis | |
| The psychological effects of meditation: A meta-analysis. Nonclinical groups of adult meditators | 2012 | Meta-analysis | n = 163 |
| Efficacy of Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy in Prevention of Depressive Relapse Adults with recurrent depression in full or partial remission | 2016 | Meta-analysis of individual patient data from randomized controlled trials | n = 1,258 |
| Mindfulness‐Based Stress Reduction and Mindfulness‐Based Cognitive Therapy – a systematic review of randomized controlled trials | 2011 | Systematic review |
Citations in the library
Cites 12
- A systematic review of the neurophysiology of mindfulness on EEG oscillations Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews 2015
- Meditation-induced effects on whole-brain structural and effective connectivity Brain Structure and Function May 6, 2022
- Global Effect on Cortical Activity in Young Indian Males in Response to "OM" Chanting: A High-Density Quantitative Electro-Encephalography Study. Annals of Neurosciences July 1, 2024
- Effect of Mantra Chanting on Power Spectral Density Indian Journal of Science and Technology January 15, 2025
- Alpha-Theta Correlations during the Different States of the Brain for a Designed Cognitive Task International Journal of Electrical and Electronics Research June 30, 2023
and 7 more in the library