Distinct patterns of directed brain connectivity in focused attention, open monitoring and loving kindness meditation: An EEG Granger causality study with long-term meditators
Vasil Kolev, Kosio Beshkov, Peter Malinowski, Antonino Raffone, Juliana Yordanova
bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory) July 4, 2025 preprint DOI: 10.1101/2025.07.01.662572 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Observational cohort |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 22 |
| Population | Highly experienced meditators |
| Interventions | Focused Attention Meditation Open Monitoring Meditation Loving Kindness Meditation |
| Measures | Spectral Granger causality |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Citations | 2 |
| Key findings | Each meditation style produced specific directed connectivity changes: FAM reduced posterior-to-anterior GC in alpha and beta bands and decreased inter-hemispheric frontal GC; OMM increased left-hemisphere to right-posterior cortex GC; LKM showed inter-hemispheric symmetry, bidirectional posterior-anterior flow, and beta-band engagement. |
Abstract
ABSTRACT The present study applied spectral Granger causality analysis to electroencephalographic (EEG) recordings obtained during Focused Attention Meditation (FAM), Open Monitoring Meditation (OMM), and Loving Kindness Meditation (LKM) in highly experienced meditators. The aim of the investigation was to uncover distinct connectivity signatures associated with each meditation style by examining the strength, frequency band, and direction of inter-regional information transfers. These differences were expected to highlight the neural grounds of the cognitive and affective state of each meditative practice. Multivariate Granger causality (GC) was computed from high-resolution EEG signals recorded from long-term meditators (n = 22) in four conditions: rest, FAM, OMM, and LKM. GC was analyzed in the frequency domain for key cortical regions (frontal and parietal) in the two hemispheres to compare frequency-specific directed connectivity between rest and each meditation type. Main results demonstrated that each meditation state produced highly specific alterations in information transfer relative to rest. In FAM, there was significant reduction in posterior-to-anterior GC in the alpha and beta bands, and decreased multi-spectral inter-hemispheric frontal GC pointing to attenuated bottom-up sensory and associative inputs. In OMM, multi-spectral GC was significantly increased from the left hemisphere to the right posterior cortex implying expanded awareness in the right posterior regions through enhanced top-down modulation by the left-hemisphere. The distinctive features of LKM profile were the inter-hemispheric symmetry, the posterior-anterior bi-directionality, and the specific beta-band engagement, implying a co-activation of systems that support an emotionally balanced stance, equanimity and pro-social attitude. These novel findings demonstrate that the direction and frequency specificity of information flows provide complementary insights into neural processes underlying distinct meditative states.
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 23
- Meditation experience is associated with differences in default mode network activity and connectivity Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences November 23, 2011
- Long-term meditators self-induce high-amplitude gamma synchrony during mental practice Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences November 8, 2004
- Neural mechanisms of attentional control in mindfulness meditation Frontiers in Neuroscience 2013
- A systematic review of the neurophysiology of mindfulness on EEG oscillations Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews 2015
- The Out-of-Body Experience: Disturbed Self-Processing at the Temporo-Parietal Junction The Neuroscientist January 4, 2005
and 18 more in the library