Neurophysiological Effects of Gayatri Mantra Meditation on Emotional Processing: An EEG-ERP Study.
Nitesh Sharma, Dushyant Soni, Manvi Jain, Jyoti Kumar, Rahul Garg
Applied Psychophysiology and Biofeedback December 22, 2025 DOI: 10.1007/s10484-025-09753-7 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Observational cohort Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 24 |
| Population | Healthy male participants (mean age 32.37 years) |
| Intervention | Gayatri Mantra meditation |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Keywords | EEG Emotion regulation Event related potential Gayatri mantra Wellbeing |
| Key findings | Long-term Gayatri Mantra meditation practitioners showed reduced LPP amplitudes to negative stimuli and higher emotional competence and non-attachment scores compared to non-practitioners. |
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 = .043) and near significance at right centroparietal regions (p = .073). Self-report data revealed that practitioners demonstrated significantly greater Emotional Competence (p = .003) and Anasakti (non-attachment) (p = .043), along with higher scores on emotion regulation and resilience, suggesting a consistent trend toward enhanced emotional wellbeing. These findings indicate 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.
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
Cites 12
- Dispositional mindfulness and the attenuation of neural responses to emotional stimuli Social Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience January 17, 2012
- Effects of Mindfulness with Gayatri Mantra on Decreasing Anxiety in the Elderly Holistic Nursing and Health Science July 10, 2018
- Effect of Gayatri Mantra Meditation on Meditation Naive Subjects: an EEG and fMRI Pilot Study International Journal of Indian Psychology March 25, 2016
- Om chanting modulates the processing of negative stimuli: Behavioral and electrophysiological evidence Frontiers in Psychology October 13, 2022
- Impact of gayatri sadhana camp on stress and well-being parameters: A mixed-method study Journal of Applied Consciousness Studies 2024
and 7 more in the library