Neurophysiological Effects of Gayatri Mantra Meditation on Emotional Processing: An EEG-ERP Study

Long-term practice of Gayatri Mantra meditation is associated with enhanced emotional regulation and reduced neural reactivity to negative emotional stimuli. In a study of 24 healthy male participants, those who regularly practiced meditation showed significantly lower brain-wave amplitudes (Late Positive Potential) when viewing negative images, particularly at the centroparietal region, compared to non-practitioners. Practitioners also reported greater emotional competence, non-attachment, and resilience on standardized questionnaires. The results suggest that sustained Gayatri Mantra meditation may help cultivate emotional resilience and balance.

Study at a glance

Abstract

Abstract This study has studied the impact of Gayatri Mantra (GM) meditation on emotional processing using event-related potentials (ERPs) and self-report measures. Twenty-four healthy male participants (M = 32.37, SD = 8.02 years) voluntarily participated in this study. Based on their self-reported daily routine practices, participants were categorized into two groups: meditation practitioners (n = 12) and non-practitioners (n = 12), who did not engage in any mind-body practices. All participants completed standardized psychometric assessments, including the Emotional Competence Scale, Emotion Regulation Questionnaire, Anashakti (non-attachment) Scale, and Brief Resilience Scale. EEG-ERP data were recorded using a 64-channel EEG during passive viewing of 120 affective images (40 positive, 40 negative, 40 neutral) from the International Affective Picture System (IAPS) repository. Results revealed significantly reduced ERP-Late Positive Potential (LPP) amplitudes in practitioners across mid, right and left-centroparietal sites, with the most significant reduction at CPz in response to negative stimuli (p = 0.043) and near significance at right centroparietal regions (p = 0.073). Self-report data revealed that practitioners demonstrated significantly greater Emotional Competence (p = 0.003) and Anasakti (non-attachment) (p = 0.043), along with higher scores on emotion regulation and resilience, suggesting a consistent trend toward enhanced emotional well-being. These findings suggest that sustained long-term GM meditation practice is associated with enhanced emotional regulation, reduced neural reactivity to affective stimuli, and improved emotional wellbeing. The combined neurophysiological and psychological evidence underscores the potential of GM meditation in cultivating emotional resilience and affective balance for overall wellbeing.