Research article summary (published 5 Sep 2001):

Human anterior and frontal midline theta and lower alpha reflect emotionally positive state and internalized attention: high-resolution EEG investigation of meditation.

Full Abstract

EEG spectral power and coherence estimates in the individually defined delta, theta, alpha-1, alpha-2, and alpha-3 bands were used to identify and characterize brain regions involved in meditative states, in which focused internalized attention gives rise to emotionally positive "blissful" experience. Blissful state was accompanied by increased anterior frontal and midline theta synchronization as well as enhanced theta long-distant connectivity between prefrontal and posterior association cortex with distinct "center of gravity" in the left prefrontal region (AF3 site). Subjective scores of emotional experience significantly correlated with theta, whereas scores of internalized attention with both theta and alpha lower synchronization. Our results propose selective associations of theta and alpha oscillating networks activity with states of internalized attention and positive emotional experience.

Author information

Author/s: Aftanas, L I (LI); Golocheikine, S A (SA);

Affiliation: Psychophysiology Laboratory, State-Research Institute of Physiology, Siberian Branch, Russian Academy of Medical Sciences, Timakova str 4, 630117, Novosibirsk, Russia. aftanas(-atsign-)iph.ma.nsc.ru

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Clinical Trial; Journal Article

Journal: Neuroscience letters (Neurosci Lett), published in Ireland. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2001-Sep; vol 310 (issue 1) : pp 57-60

Dates: Created 2001/08/28; Completed 2001/10/25; Revised 2004/11/17;

PMID: 11524157, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 2/18/2009, IMS Date: )

Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.

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MeSH headings (categories)

This article was linked to the MESH Headings shown below.

Adult Anxiety - physiopathology Attention - physiology Electroencephalography Electrooculography Emotions - physiology

Female Humans Male Meditation - psychology Thinking - physiology Yoga - psychology

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