Integrated central and autonomic signatures of concentrative and analytical meditation in expert practitioners
Alejandro Luis Callara, Mohammad Hadi Azarabad, Laura Sebastiani, Ngawang Sherab, Jampa Khechok, Jampa Tsering, Jampa Thakchoe, Jampa Soepa, Nicola Vanello, Enzo Pasquale Scilingo, Alberto Greco, Bruno Neri
Scientific Reports August 29, 2026 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-026-65426-3 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Observational cohort Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 35 |
| Population | Highly experienced Tibetan monk practitioners |
| Intervention | Concentrative meditation |
| Measures | RMSSD, SDNN, EDA, respiratory rate, EEG gamma-band power |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Key findings | Meditation practices were associated with enhanced parasympathetic activity (higher RMSSD and SDNN), reduced respiratory rate, and progressive rise in tonic EDA, along with changes in gamma-band power, suggesting coordinated autonomic–cortical integration. However, due to the fixed-order design, differences between conditions may reflect order or carryover effects. |
Abstract
Meditation has long been associated with improvements in mental well-being, emotional regulation, and attentional control. However, the diversity of meditative techniques and variability in participant expertise across studies have hindered the systematic identification of their neurophysiological correlates. To address this challenge, we investigated the neurophysiological signatures of distinct meditation types in a relatively homogeneous cohort of 35 highly experienced Tibetan monk practitioners. We focused on concentrative meditation, characterized by sustained attention on a single object, and two analytical practices: Loving-Kindness, centered on cultivating prosocial affect, and Emptiness, involving reflective and deconstructive cognitive processes. EEG, ECG, EDA, and respiration were simultaneously recorded during these practices, which were performed in a fixed-order sequence (Concentrative → Loving-Kindness → Emptiness). Linear mixed-model analyses revealed significant modulations across conditions. Peripheral indices indicated enhanced parasympathetic activity (higher RMSSD and SDNN), reduced respiratory rate, and a progressive rise in tonic EDA across the entire three-phases meditation session. Cortically, EEG analyses showed changes in the gamma-band power during the meditation session. Overall, the pattern suggests that advanced meditative states involve coordinated autonomic–cortical integration, reflecting relaxed vigilance with improved emotional regulation and cognitive flexibility; nevertheless, given the fixed-order design, condition-related differences should be interpreted cautiously due to possible order or carryover effects.
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 |