Meditation-induced modulation of brain response to transcranial magnetic stimulation.

Meditation involves complex emotional and attentional training that may improve self-awareness, emotion regulation, attention, and brain structure, but its neurophysiology is not well understood. Transcranial magnetic stimulation combined with electroencephalography (TMS-EEG) offers a non-invasive way to probe brain activity and connectivity. This work aims to determine whether TMS-EEG can detect changes in brain reactivity during meditation and whether those changes are specific to the meditative state and the brain region stimulated.

Study at a glance

Abstract

Meditation can be conceptualized as a family of complex emotional and attentional regulatory training regimes developed for various ends, including the cultivation of well-being and emotional balance. Previous studies have demonstrated that meditation may have positive effects on self-awareness, emotion regulation, attention processes, and also structural neuroplasticity [1]. However, the underlying neurophysiology remains poorly understood. Transcranial magnetic stimulation combined with electroencephalography (TMS—EEG) is a non-invasive technique to probe brain activity and connectivity. We aim at establishing whether TMS—EEG can detect changes in brain reactivity during meditation practice and at evaluating whether these changes are specific to the achieved state and to stimulated cortical areas.