Effects of a brief guided breathing meditation on EEG features and state relaxation: A randomized crossover trial
Lukas Moebus
Open Mind 2026 preprint DOI: 10.17605/osf.io/gqkw8 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Randomized within-subject crossover design (protocol) Preregistered |
|---|---|
| Interventions | Guided breathing meditation Educational podcast |
| Duration | Five-minute sessions (immediate effects only) |
| Measures | RSQ factor, MAAS, RESTQ-Basic |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Key points | This is a protocol describing planned methods and hypotheses; no findings are reported. The authors aim to test whether brief meditation induces a decodable EEG state and whether State Fidelity relates to relaxation benefits. |
Abstract
This study examines the immediate neurophysiological and psychological effects of a five-minute guided breathing meditation compared to a matched five-minute educational podcast as an active control. Using a wireless 14-channel EEG system (Emotiv EPOC X) in a randomized within-subject crossover design, we aim to (1) test whether brief meditation induces a distinct neurophysiological state that is decodable from EEG using machine learning, and to quantify participant-level State Fidelity (within-subject separability) from the same model; (2) test whether meditation increases self-reported general relaxation (RSQ factor) and whether individual differences in State Fidelity relate to the relaxation benefit; and (3) explore whether trait mindfulness (MAAS), prior meditation experience (Lifetime hours), and past-week recovery–stress balance (RESTQ-Basic) are associated with State Fidelity and the relaxation benefit (including exploratory mediation and moderation). EEG preprocessing and feature extraction will follow preregistered OSF pipeline documents (“EEG preprocessing pipeline” and “Feature extraction pipeline”) to minimize analytic flexibility.
Comparable studies
Other randomized controlled trials on meditation, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alterations in Brain and Immune Function Produced by Mindfulness Meditation Healthy employees in a work environment | 2003 | Randomized controlled trial | n = 41 |
| Prevention of relapse/recurrence in major depression by mindfulness-based cognitive therapy. Recovered recurrently depressed patients | 2000 | Randomized controlled trial | n = 145 |
| Open hearts build lives: Positive emotions, induced through loving-kindness meditation, build consequential personal resources. Working adults | 2008 | Randomized controlled trial | n = 139 |
| Short-term meditation training improves attention and self-regulation Undergraduate Chinese students | 2007 | Randomized controlled trial | n = 40 |
| Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy for Depression: Replication and Exploration of Differential Relapse Prevention Effects. Recovered recurrently depressed patients | 2004 | Randomized controlled trial | n = 73 |