Brief Mantra Meditation Increases Theta Power in Frontal Regions

Meditation has been widely used to enhance cognitive health, particularly during pregnancy. θ-power, associated with cognitive processes such as attention and relaxation, is often prominent in the frontal region, which plays a critical role in executive functions and emotional regulation. This study investigated the effects of brief meditation on θ-power using EEG data from the PEM-43 dataset. θ-power was analyzed across frontal, central, and posterior regions using Welch’s method. Topographical analysis revealed increased θ-power in the frontal region, while central and posterior regions exhibited relatively low activity. The highest mean theta power was observed in frontal channels (Fp1: 59.5 µV<sup xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">2</sup>·Hz, Fz: 59.4 µV<sup xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">2</sup>·Hz), supporting the role of frontal θ in cognitive engagement and attentional focus. Statistical analysis, including pairwise T-tests and one-way ANOVA, indicated a significant increase in theta power during meditation (52.4 µV<sup xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">2</sup>·Hz), with a subsequent decrease after meditation (45 µV<sup xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">2</sup>·Hz) compared to the resting state. These results suggest that brief meditation induces measurable changes in θ activity, highlighting its potential to modulate attention and relaxation.