EEG evidence for reproducible neural states during Buddhist Highest Yoga Tantra meditation
Ekaterina Mikhaylets, Alexandra Razorenova, Е.к. Карелина, Ngawang Norbu, Lodoe Sangpo, Yulia Zhironkina, Alexander Kaplan
Scientific Reports July 29, 2026 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-026-45893-4 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Observational cohort Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 36 |
| Population | Male Buddhist practitioners of Highest Yoga Tantra, aged 31-69 years |
| Topics | Buddhism Meditation |
| Key findings | BHYT meditation unfolds as structured sequences of EEG-defined states; six reproducible state types emerged, and greater expertise was associated with longer, more diverse states featuring more alpha/theta and beta/gamma activity, whereas lower experience showed shorter sequences dominated by background or delta activity. |
Abstract
Meditation offers a naturalistic paradigm for studying introspection, yet the neural dynamics of advanced tantric practices remain largely unexplored. Buddhist Highest Yoga Tantra (BHYT) comprises a sequence of eight dissolution stages culminating in the “clear light” state. We recorded EEG during eyes-closed BHYT meditation performed in monasteries and hermitages (51 sessions from 36 male practitioners; age 31–69 years); analyses compared sessions within this single cohort, and some participants contributed multiple sessions. Using a state-detecting algorithm that combines EEG power spectrum and EEG synchronization features, we segmented each session into discrete EEG-defined states and clustered them. Six reproducible state types emerged, forming three symmetric pairs dominated by delta, alpha/theta, and beta/gamma activity, along with two background-like states. Representing each meditation as a 8-symbolic alphabet sequence enabled quantitative comparison across sessions and practitioners. Although all followed the same canonical BHYT protocol, sequences differed systematically and formed six meditation clusters. Greater expertise was associated with longer and more diverse states within a meditation, with increased presence of oscillatory alpha/theta and beta/gamma states, whereas lower-experience sessions were represented by shorter sequences dominated by background or delta activity. These findings suggest BHYT practice unfolds as structured neural state sequences and provide a quantitative bridge between canonical contemplative descriptions and measurable EEG dynamics.