Neural Correlates of Impulsivity and Frontal Electroencephalogram Oscillations in Heartfulness Meditators: A Cross-Sectional Study.

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.