A Study of the Neurophysiology of Meditation

The performance quality of ideomotor BCIs depends not only on exogenous parameters determined by methods of registration and processing of brain activity, but also on endogenous characteristics of neuronal activity of a particular user. For example, the degree of the user's sensorimotor rhythm reliably correlates with the quality of control achieved in the loop of the ideomotor BCI. However, as our study (Volodina et al., 2021) has shown, only in only half of the experienced meditators does brain activity change toward an increase in alpha rhythm power (Fig. 1). On the contrary, the other half of the meditators demonstrate a reliable decrease in the intensity of oscillations in the alpha range, including over the sensorimotor cortex areas.

Fig. 1. Changes of EEG indicators in "relaxed" and "concentrated" experienced meditators. (From the article: Maria Volodina, Nikolai Smetanin, Mikhail Lebedev, Alexei Ossadtchi (2021). Cortical and autonomic responses during staged Taoist meditation: Two distinct meditation strategies. PloS one, 16(12), e0260626. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0260626).

One subgroup showed several signs of general relaxation, evident from changes in heart rate variability, respiration rate, and EEG rhythmic activity (Fig. 2) Another subgroup showed patterns of mind concentration, primarily noticeable on EEG recordings, while no autonomic reactions were observed.


Fig. 2. Results obtained. Arrows indicate the direction of change in markers during meditation.

These results show that experienced meditators can use two different meditation strategies, which partially explains the conflicting results obtained in earlier studies evaluating the effects of meditation.  In another study, we analyzed the dynamics of several neurophysiological indicators during a staged meditation session. We measured physiological changes at rest and during guided Taoist meditation in naïve subjects. The results showed an increase in delta, theta, and alpha frequencies in the meditators' brain activity, as well as an increase in physiological indicators of sympathetic activation. Psychological testing confirmed a positive effect on the emotional state. No significant differences in physiological markers were observed despite monitoring changes during the process of entering meditation. 

The results of such applied research may help in the development of high quality biofeedback systems. 
Published article on the project:

1. Maria Volodina, Nikolai Smetanin, Mikhail Lebedev, Alexei Ossadtchi (2021). Cortical and autonomic responses during staged Taoist meditation: Two distinct meditation strategies. PloS one, 16(12), e0260626  https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0260626