Electrophysiological effects of mindfulness meditation in a concentration test
Author: Pedro Morais1, Claúdia Quaresma2, Ricardo Vigário2, Carla Quintão2
Affiliation:
1 Laboratory for Instrumentation, Biomedical Engineering and Radiation Physics - Department of Physics, NOVA School of Science and Technology - NOVA University of Lisbon, Lisbon, Portugal. jpe.morais@campus.fct.unl.pt.
2 Laboratory for Instrumentation, Biomedical Engineering and Radiation Physics - Department of Physics, NOVA School of Science and Technology - NOVA University of Lisbon, Lisbon, Portugal.
Conference/Journal: Med Biol Eng Comput
Date published: 2021 Mar 17
Other:
Special Notes: doi: 10.1007/s11517-021-02332-y. , Word Count: 283
In this paper, we evaluate the effects of mindfulness meditation training in electrophysiological signals, recorded during a concentration task. Longitudinal experiments have been limited to the analysis of psychological scores through depression, anxiety, and stress state (DASS) surveys. Here, we present a longitudinal study, confronting DASS survey data with electrocardiography (ECG), electroencephalography (EEG), and electrodermal activity (EDA) signals. Twenty-five university student volunteers (mean age = 26, SD = 7, 9 male) attended a 25-h mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) course, over a period of 8 weeks. There were four evaluation periods: pre/peri/post-course and a fourth follow-up, after 2 months. All three recorded biosignals presented congruent results, in line with the expected benefits of regular meditation practice. In average, EDA activity decreased throughout the course, -64.5%, whereas the mean heart rate displayed a small reduction, -5.8%, possibly as a result of an increase in parasympathetic nervous system activity. Prefrontal (AF3) cortical alpha activity, often associated with calm conditions, saw a very significant increase, 148.1%. Also, the number of stressed and anxious subjects showed a significant decrease, -92.9% and -85.7%, respectively. Easy to practice and within everyone's reach, this mindfulness meditation can be used proactively to prevent or enhance better quality of life. 25 volunteers attended a Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) course in 4 evaluation periods: Pre/Peri/Post-course and a fourth follow-up after two months. A Depression, Anxiety and Stress State (DASS) survey is completed in each period. Electrodermal Activity (EDA), Electrocardiography (ECG) and Electroencephalography (EEG) are also recorded and processed. By integrating self-reported surveys and electrophysiological recordings there is strong evidence of evolution in wellbeing. Mindfulness meditation can be used proactively to prevent or enhance better quality of life.
Keywords: Concentration; DASS; ECG; EDA; EEG; Mindfulness.
PMID: 33728595 DOI: 10.1007/s11517-021-02332-y
BACK
