Meditation and the EEG

West, Michael

doi:10.1017/s0033291700044147

Cited by 53 publications

(27 citation statements)

References 24 publications

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“…The existing research on the acute CNS effects of RT suggests that RT such as meditation result in alterations in CNS arousal as measured by acute changes in alpha or theta EEG activity in experienced practitioners (Delmonte, 1984;West, 1980). Although many studies have reported increased alpha activity during RT, others have reported decreased alpha (Jacobs & Lubar, 1989;Stigsby, Rodenburg, & Moth, 1981).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

EEG Spectral Analysis of Relaxation Techniques

Jacobs

Friedman

2004

Appl Psychophysiol Biofeedback

117

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The acute central nervous system effects of relaxation techniques (RT) have not been systematically studied. We conducted a controlled, randomized study of the central nervous system effects of RT using spectral analysis of EEG activity. Thirty-six subjects were randomized to either RT or a music comparison condition. After listening to an RT audiotape or music audiotapes daily for 6 weeks, the acute central nervous system effects of RT and music were measured using power spectral analysis of alpha and theta EEG activity in all cortical regions. RT produced significantly greater increases in theta activity in multiple cortical regions compared to the music condition. These findings are consistent with widespread reductions in cortical arousal during RT. They extend previous findings and suggest that theta, and not alpha, EEG may be the most reliable marker of the central nervous system effects of RT. These findings demonstrate that RT produce greater reductions in central nervous system activity than a credible comparison condition. The findings suggest that RT represent a hypoactive central nervous system state that may be similar to Stage 1 sleep and that RT may exert their therapeutic effects, in part, through cerebral energy conservation/restoration.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

EEG Spectral Analysis of Relaxation Techniques

Jacobs

Friedman

2004

Appl Psychophysiol Biofeedback

117

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“…A number of papers have reported the EEG findings for experimental subjects under meditation [3]- [5] [8]- [12]. EEG has been recognized to be an important clinical tool for diagnosing and monitoring the nervous system [13]- [15].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…EEG has been recognized to be an important clinical tool for diagnosing and monitoring the nervous system [13]- [15]. In the meditation EEG study, West [5] summarized the EEG findings and made three major comments including: slower alpha with larger power at the meditating beginning, occurrence of the rhythmic theta trains for experienced meditators at the mid session, and very rarely, bursts of high-frequency beta (above 20Hz) observed for in biomedical signal processing [16]- [20]. Appropriate selection of scales and wavelet bases enables it to characterize the EEG rhythmic patterns [20]- [22].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Meditation Eeg Interpretation Based on Novel Fuzzy-Merging Strategies and Wavelet Features

Chang

2005

Biomed. Eng. Appl. Basis Commun.

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As the advantages of meditation have been outlined literally, scientific exploration of the meditation phenomena becomes significant. Meditation EEG may provide an access to the mental states beyond normal consciousness. It is the first attempt to score the meditation course by EEG. Wavelet analysis and fuzzy c-means (FCM) are applied in the automatic interpretation algorithm. However, FCM applied straightforward to quantitative feature vectors often results in an over-trifling interpretation. As a consequence, this paper presents novel cluster-managing strategies for achieving an interpretation closer to the result of naked-eye examination. The running gray-scale chart

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“…The research on the CNS effects of the RR that has been done suggests that the RR results in reductions in CNS arousal as measured by increases in alpha or theta EEG activity (Delmonte, 1984;West, 1980). However, this research has been hampered by a number of methodological problems, including lack of empirically sound experimental designs (self-selection bias, nonrandom assignment, no pretesting prior to training), reliance on visual analyses of a few channels of EEG activity, and failure to assess CNS effects in novice subjects to determine if the CNS effects of the RR are immediate.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Topographic EEG mapping of the relaxation response

Jacobs

Benson

Friedman

1996

Biofeedback and Self-Regulation

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The purpose of this study was to assess the central nervous system effects of the relaxation response (RR) in novice subjects using a controlled, within- subjects design and topographic EEG mapping as the dependent measure. Twenty subjects listened to a RR and control audiotape presented in a counterbalanced order while EEG was recorded from 14 scalp locations. The RR condition produced greater (p < .0164) reductions in frontal EEG beta activity relative to the control condition. No significant differences were observed for any other frequency band or scalp region. These findings suggest that elicitation of the RR produces significant reductions in cortical activation in anterior brain regions in novice subjects.

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Meditation and the EEG

Cited by 53 publications

References 24 publications

EEG Spectral Analysis of Relaxation Techniques

EEG Spectral Analysis of Relaxation Techniques

Meditation Eeg Interpretation Based on Novel Fuzzy-Merging Strategies and Wavelet Features

Topographic EEG mapping of the relaxation response

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