Decoding Meditation States and Traits Using Electroencephalography
Yash Bandal, J. Sarwade, Dipmala Salunke, D. J. Hemanth, Yatharth Pawar, Sarthaki Joshi, Sakshi Bhagat
2026 International Conference on Intelligent Engineering and Next-Gen Healthcare Systems June 1, 2026 DOI: 10.1109/iehns68708.2026.11606908 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Observational cohort Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 76 |
| Population | Meditators from Himalayan Yoga Tradition, Vipassana, Isha Shoonya, Transcendental Meditation, and nonmeditative controls |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Key findings | Most meditators exhibited higher gamma frequency activity (50–110 Hz) compared to controls. Vipassana showed higher alpha modulation, while Isha Shoonya displayed higher gamma activity, which the authors associate with pure forms of consciousness. |
Abstract
Meditation has been a topic of research for several decades. Despite the existence of large body of studies, the effects of meditation on the human brain and the reason behind the neuromodulatory changes have not been fully discovered yet. The following study aims to determine a thorough association of different meditation techniques with the five major brainwaves and associate a particular brainwave with a specific brain region. For the purpose of research we took into consideration EEG data recordings from 76 participants spanning across meditation groups like Himalayan Yoga Tradition, Vipassana, Isha Shoonya, a nonmeditative control group $(\mathrm{N}=18)$, and Transcendental Meditation $(\mathbf{N}=\mathbf{4})$. Using MNE Python and Deep learning EEG features were studied and processed for purpose of classification and association. Majority of the meditators showed higher gamma frequency association between 50 to 110 Hz except the control group. We also identified that vipassana prominently observed higher alpha modulation, whereas Isha Shoonya showed higher gamma activity, which is closely associated with pure forms of consciousness.
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 9
- Long-term meditators self-induce high-amplitude gamma synchrony during mental practice Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences November 8, 2004
- Decoding Depth of Meditation: Electroencephalography Insights From Expert Vipassana Practitioners Biological Psychiatry Global Open Science October 17, 2024
- Attentional and cognitive monitoring brain networks in long-term meditators depend on meditation states and expertise. Scientific Reports March 1, 2021
- Mindfulness meditation is associated with global EEG spectral changes in theta, alpha, and beta amplitudes. International Journal of Psychophysiology November 1, 2024
- Meditation and the Wandering Mind: A Theoretical Framework of Underlying Neurocognitive Mechanisms. Perspectives on Psychological Science 2021
and 4 more in the library