Neuroimaging Study Reveals Buddhist Meditation's Impact on External Distractions

The Buddhist Channel, 8 September 2023

Moscow, Russia -- In a recent report published in the International Journal of Psychophysiology, traditional Buddhist meditation practices have been found to diminish attention towards external stimuli. The study titled "Traditional Buddhist Meditations Reduce Mismatch Negativity in Experienced Monk-Practitioners" was conducted by a team of fifteen researchers led by Sviatoslav V. Medvedev, a professor at the Institute of the Human Brain, Russian Academy of Sciences in Moscow, Russia.

This finding aligns with the core Buddhist principle of gradually retreating from sensory-focused levels of awareness related to the five senses. Meditation has been an enduring practice in Buddhism for centuries, with previous research demonstrating its positive effects on mental health, concentration, and stress reduction.

Essentially, meditation fosters a state of calm and mindfulness, enabling practitioners to be present in the moment. These diverse aspects of meditation prompted a team of researchers to delve into how Buddhist mindfulness methods manifest at a neurological level.

To explore the intricate connection between traditional Buddhist meditation and its impact on brain activity, a study involved 115 seasoned practitioners from various Indian monasteries. These participants, aged 25 to 80, were right-handed and had no hearing impairments, injuries, concussions, or neurological disorders.

Electroencephalography (EEG) was employed to record the monks' brain activities, involving the placement of electrodes on their scalps to measure brain-generated electrical patterns. EEG recordings were obtained while they engaged in various meditative practices.

To provide a balanced perspective, the researchers also monitored their brain activities during a passive state of relaxed wakefulness akin to free-form mind wandering. Prior to recording, participants provided their ages and education levels, and afterward, they assessed their meditation quality.

The results demonstrated that traditional meditative practices led to a decrease in MMN amplitude compared to the passive state. MMN amplitude signifies a specific brain response to unexpected external stimuli, such as sudden loud noises. This reduction in MMN amplitude suggests that experienced monk-practitioners were less responsive to such stimuli during meditation, indicating a diminished likelihood of being distracted or disturbed by unexpected sounds while deeply immersed in meditation.

Furthermore, the study revealed reductions in other brain wave amplitudes related to processing rare sensory distractions. In simpler terms, during deep meditation, monks were less prone to being startled by unexpected sounds or distractions, reflecting their intense internal focus and reduced attention to the external world.

Nonetheless, the study has certain caveats to consider. The chosen control state of relaxed wakefulness may not be optimal for drawing definitive conclusions, as it might not sufficiently stimulate the brain to produce significant responses. Future research might benefit from utilizing a more demanding cognitive task or a more stimulating environment for an enhanced control state.

Moreover, individual differences in response to the selected control state need to be considered, as what works for one participant may not be as effective for another.The study also did not differentiate the monks based on age or meditation experience, keeping them all in the same group, which could potentially influence the results.

Nevertheless, while further investigations are warranted to enhance our understanding of Buddhist meditation practices, this study provides valuable insights into the profound effects of meditation on the brain.