Short term integrative meditation improves resting alpha activity and stroop performance.

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Cognitive Psychology
• Mind-Body Medicine

Background:

• Previous research indicates short-term meditation reduces conflict resolution time in the flanker task.
• Long-term meditation practice is associated with increased resting alpha brainwave activity.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate if short-term meditation training increases resting alpha activity.
• To determine if short-term meditation training reduces conflict resolution time in the Stroop task.
• To examine the relationship between enhanced alpha activity and improved conflict resolution.

Main Methods:

• Forty-three Chinese undergraduates participated in a 5-day study.
• Participants were randomly assigned to either integrative body-mind training (IBMT) or relaxation training.
• Electroencephalography (EEG) measured resting alpha power, and reaction time (RT) measured conflict resolution in the Stroop task.

Main Results:

• The IBMT group demonstrated decreased conflict RT and increased resting mean alpha power post-training.
• The control group did not show significant changes in alpha power or conflict RT.
• A positive correlation was found between the enhancement of resting alpha power and the improvement in conflict RT.

Conclusions:

• Short-term meditation, specifically IBMT, can diffusely enhance alpha brainwave activity.
• Meditation training improves the cognitive ability to deal with conflict.
• The enhancement of alpha activity and improvement in conflict resolution are positively interrelated.