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Objectives <p>Focused-attention meditation has been associated with neural changes across the alpha and theta bands. Specifically, research suggests an increase in the incidence of non-harmonic and a reduction in the incidence of harmonic alpha-theta relationships, as defined by theoretically grounded golden-mean (1.6:1) and harmonic (2:1) peak frequency ratios, respectively. Given that harmonic alpha-theta relationships are associated with working memory engagement, this shift likely reflects a reduction in mind-wandering episodes and increased present-moment awareness. Since these underlying neural dynamics may vary with meditation experience, this study aimed to compare neural dynamics between novice and experienced meditators.</p> Method <p>EEG recordings from 29 novice and 29 experienced meditators were analyzed during rest and focused-attention meditation. Primary analyses examined changes in the incidences of harmonic and non-harmonic alpha-theta relationships. Secondary analyses assessed relative power and peak frequency modulations. Cluster-based permutation statistics were used to assess condition- and group-related effects.</p> Results <p>Both groups showed reduced harmonic and increased non-harmonic alpha-theta relationships during meditation, with more pronounced changes in experienced meditators. Novices exhibited stronger increases in alpha and theta peak frequencies, suggesting greater cognitive effort, while experienced meditators exhibited decreased relative alpha power alongside greater relative theta power, potentially reflecting heightened meditative awareness.</p> Conclusions <p>Meditation expertise influences neural activity within the alpha and theta bands. Experienced meditators showed a greater shift from harmonic to non-harmonic alpha-theta relationships, reflecting reduced cognitive processing. Changes in peak frequencies and relative power suggest more cognitive effort in novices and deeper meditative awareness in expert meditators.</p> <p>Preregistration</p> <p>This study is not preregistered.</p>

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Alpha-Theta Cross-Frequency EEG Dynamics During Breath-Focus Meditation: A Comparative Study of Experienced Meditators and Novices

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2026年3月4日

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  • Hendrik-Jan De Vuyst,
  • Angeliki-Ilektra Karaiskou,
  • Kaat Alaerts

摘要

Objectives

Focused-attention meditation has been associated with neural changes across the alpha and theta bands. Specifically, research suggests an increase in the incidence of non-harmonic and a reduction in the incidence of harmonic alpha-theta relationships, as defined by theoretically grounded golden-mean (1.6:1) and harmonic (2:1) peak frequency ratios, respectively. Given that harmonic alpha-theta relationships are associated with working memory engagement, this shift likely reflects a reduction in mind-wandering episodes and increased present-moment awareness. Since these underlying neural dynamics may vary with meditation experience, this study aimed to compare neural dynamics between novice and experienced meditators.

Method

EEG recordings from 29 novice and 29 experienced meditators were analyzed during rest and focused-attention meditation. Primary analyses examined changes in the incidences of harmonic and non-harmonic alpha-theta relationships. Secondary analyses assessed relative power and peak frequency modulations. Cluster-based permutation statistics were used to assess condition- and group-related effects.

Results

Both groups showed reduced harmonic and increased non-harmonic alpha-theta relationships during meditation, with more pronounced changes in experienced meditators. Novices exhibited stronger increases in alpha and theta peak frequencies, suggesting greater cognitive effort, while experienced meditators exhibited decreased relative alpha power alongside greater relative theta power, potentially reflecting heightened meditative awareness.

Conclusions

Meditation expertise influences neural activity within the alpha and theta bands. Experienced meditators showed a greater shift from harmonic to non-harmonic alpha-theta relationships, reflecting reduced cognitive processing. Changes in peak frequencies and relative power suggest more cognitive effort in novices and deeper meditative awareness in expert meditators.

Preregistration

This study is not preregistered.