Brief Mantra Meditation Increases Theta Power in Frontal Regions
Daisy Das, Bhabesh Kalita, Nabamita Deb, S. Choudhury
2025 3rd International Conference on Intelligent Systems, Advanced Computing and Communication February 27, 2025 DOI: 10.1109/isacc65211.2025.10969192 (opens in new tab) via Semantic Scholar
Summary
AI-generated from the abstractBrief meditation increases theta brainwave power in the frontal region, which is linked to attention and relaxation. Analyzing EEG data from the PEM-43 dataset, theta power rose during meditation (52.4 µV2·Hz) and dropped afterward (45 µV2·Hz) compared to resting state. Frontal channels showed the highest mean theta power (Fp1: 59.5 µV2·Hz, Fz: 59.4 µV2·Hz), while central and posterior regions had lower activity. Statistical tests confirmed a significant increase during meditation, suggesting brief meditation can measurably modulate cognitive engagement and relaxation.
Study at a glance
| Characteristics | Observational study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Population | Pregnant individuals (implied by context of pregnancy and cognitive health) |
| Intervention | brief meditation |
| Keywords | Medicine Psychology |
| Key finding | Brief meditation significantly increases frontal theta power compared to resting state, with a subsequent decrease after meditation. |
Abstract
Meditation has been widely used to enhance cognitive health, particularly during pregnancy. θ-power, associated with cognitive processes such as attention and relaxation, is often prominent in the frontal region, which plays a critical role in executive functions and emotional regulation. This study investigated the effects of brief meditation on θ-power using EEG data from the PEM-43 dataset. θ-power was analyzed across frontal, central, and posterior regions using Welch’s method. Topographical analysis revealed increased θ-power in the frontal region, while central and posterior regions exhibited relatively low activity. The highest mean theta power was observed in frontal channels (Fp1: 59.5 µV2·Hz, Fz: 59.4 µV2·Hz), supporting the role of frontal θ in cognitive engagement and attentional focus. Statistical analysis, including pairwise T-tests and one-way ANOVA, indicated a significant increase in theta power during meditation (52.4 µV2·Hz), with a subsequent decrease after meditation (45 µV2·Hz) compared to the resting state. These results suggest that brief meditation induces measurable changes in θ activity, highlighting its potential to modulate attention and relaxation.