Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 12, 2025
Using Wavelet Entropy to Demonstrate how Mindfulness Practice Increases Coordination between Irregular Cerebral and Cardiac Activities
Published on: May 10, 2017
Neural Correlates of Impulsivity and Frontal Electroencephalogram Oscillations in Heartfulness Meditators: A
Background:
Impulsivity is a multifaceted personality characteristic associated with maladaptive behavior, including action without foresight, lack of self-control, and premature actions. Despite a growing body of meditation studies reporting benefits on emotional regulation, stress reactivity, and mind wandering, it remains unclear whether impulsivity and resting-state frontal electroencephalogram activity in meditators are associated.
Primary Study Objective:
The present study evaluated the relationship between the neural activity of the frontal brain and impulsivity in heartfulness and naïve meditators.
Methods/Design:
A cross-sectional study was conducted. Before acquiring a resting-state frontal electroencephalogram, a self-reported Barratt Impulsiveness Scale Version 11, was administered to each participant to assess impulsivity.
Setting:
Data were acquired in the sound-attenuated chamber of the Cognitive Neuroscience Laboratory at Swami Vivekananda Yoga Anusandhana Samasthana, Bengaluru, India.
Participants:
A total of 65 participants aged between 20 to 45 years were recruited from Heartfulness Institute and South Bengaluru.
Intervention:
Heartfulness meditators had 1245.58 ± 355.35 hours of Heartfulness Meditation experience. Naïve meditators had no meditation practice experience.
Primary Outcome Measures:
The study assessed impulsivity using the Barratt Impulsiveness Scale Version 11 and resting-state frontal electroencephalogram to measure frontal brain oscillations in heartfulness meditation meditators and naïve meditators.
Results:
The Mann-Whitney U-test showed significantly lower total impulsive behavior (P < .05) in Heartfulness Meditation meditators. The resting-state electroencephalogram showed significantly higher right frontal alpha power (P < .05) and lower frontal beta power (P < .05) in Heartfulness Meditation meditators compared to naïve meditators. Spearman's rank correlation coefficient showed impulsiveness was negatively correlated with frontal alpha power and positively correlated with beta power.
Conclusions:
The study findings suggest that the Heartfulness Meditation practice may have a potential role in promoting frontal-lobe activities which may facilitate inhibitory control over characteristics of impulsive behavior.
