Pilot fMRI-EEG study of tantric meditation in Tibetan monks

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Abstract

This pilot study aimed to investigate brain functional activity and connectivity using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and electroencephalography (EEG) in Tibetan monks during meditation. The meditative practice was based on Buddhist techniques requiring focused attention and the “dissolution” of mental imagery. Three monks participated in the experiment, two of whom underwent two meditation sessions. Data analysis revealed changes in the connectivity of the default mode network, salience network, and sensorimotor network during meditation compared to the resting state. An increase in alpha rhythm and a decrease in delta rhythm (EEG) were observed. Joint fMRI-EEG analysis identified a relationship between brain activity and the dynamics of alpha and delta rhythms. The results indicate that meditation significantly influences brain activity and may serve as a neurotherapeutic technique to enhance cognitive and psycho-emotional functions.

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About the authors

V. D. Abramova

Institute “International Tomography Center”

Author for correspondence.
Email: victoria.d.abramova@gmail.com
Russian Federation, Novosibirsk

E. D. Petrovsky

Institute “International Tomography Center”

Email: victoria.d.abramova@gmail.com
Russian Federation, Novosibirsk

D. D. Bezmaternykh

Federal Research Center for Fundamental and Translational Medicine

Email: victoria.d.abramova@gmail.com
Russian Federation, Novosibirsk

Y. S. Zhironkina

Save Tibet Foundation

Email: victoria.d.abramova@gmail.com
Russian Federation, Moscow

A. M. Korostyshevskaya

Institute “International Tomography Center”

Email: victoria.d.abramova@gmail.com
Russian Federation, Novosibirsk

M. B. Shtark

Federal Research Center for Fundamental and Translational Medicine

Email: victoria.d.abramova@gmail.com
Russian Federation, Novosibirsk

A. Y. Kaplan

Lomonosov Moscow State University

Email: victoria.d.abramova@gmail.com
Russian Federation, Moscow

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Supplementary files

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2. Fig. 1. SBC Group Comparison Maps for Meditation/Rest: Differences in DMN, Sensorimotor, Salience, Dorsal Attention, Language, and Visual Networks. SBC maps of group comparisons between meditation and rest demonstrate statistically significant differences in the following networks: DMN ((а) – left, (б) – top), sensorimotor network ((в) – left, (г) – top), salience network ((д) – left, (е) – top, (ж) – right), dorsal attention network ((з) – right), language network ((и) – right, (к) – top), visual network ((л) – front). Maps were obtained with voxel-wise thresholds of p < 0.05 and cluster-level thresholds of p-FDR < 0.05. The color scale represents T-statistic values, with increased connectivity shown in red and decreased connectivity in yellow.

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3. Fig. 2. Comparison of ROI-to-ROI connectivity between the state of rest with closed eyes before meditation (а) and after meditation (б) and the last 5 minutes of meditation. Red lines represent increased functional connectivity, while blue lines indicate decreased connectivity.

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4. Fig. 3. Group comparison of ALFF maps ((а) – right view, (б) – left view) using the contrast meditation > rest. The maps were obtained with a voxel-wise threshold of p < 0.05 and a cluster-level threshold of p-FWE < 0.05. The color scale represents T-statistic values.

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5. Fig. 4. Comparison of individual relative spectral power density of EEG signals during meditation and rest, averaged across all electrodes (a), frontal (б), central (в), parietal (г), and occipital (д) EEG channels. * indicates statistically significant differences (p < 0.05). Blue annotations indicate a decrease in power during meditation, while black annotations indicate an increase.

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