The Neuroscience of Meditation: How Brain Waves Change During Contemplative Practices
WRITTEN BY CHRIS HEATH
Photo by Milad Fakurian
Today, we are at a unique point in history.
Not only do we have access to a wealth of ancient wisdom in the form of contemplative practices, but we also have modern science helping us to gain even more perspective on those practices.
Indeed, the combination of meditation and neuroscience may well prove to be the marriage of the millennium.
If you have ever wondered what happens in the brain itself during meditation, you are not alone - and there is a whole growing field of science dedicated to finding out.
Let’s take a look at what they have discovered so far, and what it might tell us about meditation as a practice.
The Major Findings
One of the main findings of much of the research is that different kinds of meditation tend to involve different specific brain waves.
In order to understand that, it may be helpful to take a quick look into just what brain waves are.
What Are Brain Waves?
As it happens, there are seven major types of brain waves.
A Brain wave is produced by electric pulses from masses of neurons that are all communicating with one another.
You probably already know that neurons fire electrical signals via the synapse - well, this is how the frequency of the brain wave is produced.
Essentially, what determines which of the seven brain waves we are seeing is the frequency of those electrical pulses.
Not all seven brain wave types are relevant to our discussion of the neuroscience of meditation, however.
What Happens in the Brain During Meditation?
One of the main findings that we have come across in the studies so far is that, during meditation, there is a much higher likelihood of the more relaxed brain waves to appear, often for sustained periods of time.
This is perhaps not too surprising, given that meditation is the act of slowing down and relaxing the body and mind.
But the question is: which brain waves tend to appear the most during meditation?
Which Brain Waves Does Meditation Produce?
In general, there are a few main brain wave types that tend to become aroused during meditation practice.
The most common frequencies to be found are theta and alpha waves.
Theta waves are around 3.5-7.5 Hz, whereas Alpha waves are usually between 8-12 Hz.
At the Alpha stage, your brain is relaxed and yet alert - a feeling that seasoned meditators will know all too well.
Despite being alert, however, the brain is not processing information as actively as normal.
At the Theta level, however, the brain is at around the same level as daydreaming.
This is a slow vibration, to be found in the deeper elements of a meditation practice.
In other words, as a session progresses, you are likely to traverse from normal waking state, to Alpha and then Theta - and perhaps beyond, depending on the absorption of the meditation.
The Benefits of Alpha Waves
Over time, with more and more practice, your mind will naturally rest in the Alpha state more and more.
That has numerous benefits in daily life, including:
Improved sleep
Less anxiety and depression
Better ability to focus
Enhanced memory
As you can see, a regular meditation practice really does bring sustained benefits - and all by actively changing the frequency at which your brain operates.
If you were looking for a reason to deepen your meditation practice, here it is.
Beyond Alpha & Theta
As it happens, however, it is possible to go further than that.
In some particularly effective and deep kinds of meditation, such as ancient Tibetan practices, brain activity can even reach Gamma waves.
These waves are associated with high states of consciousness, and are involved greatly when you are experiencing high degrees of love or altruism and compassion.
More intriguingly, gamma waves operate at a higher vibration than neurons firing, so how they actually appear is a mystery.
As it turns out, science is not yet able to answer everything.
What This Means For Your Practice
When you are actually meditating, all of this might not matter.
But it’s good to know that the Tibetan mindfulness meditation you are practicing is backed up by science - even if it is not fully understood by it.
Generally, however, the more you practice, the more you can expect your brain to produce those beneficial states that you are looking for. ◼︎