Cited by 202Mindfulness and Compassion InterventionsMind wandering and attentionNeural dynamics and brain function

Meditation (Vipassana) and the P3a event-related brain potential

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Cahn, B. Rael, Polich, John·2009·International Journal of Psychophysiology

Abstract

A three-stimulus auditory oddball series was presented to experienced Vipassana meditators during meditation and a control thought period to elicit event-related brain potentials (ERPs) in the two different mental states. The stimuli consisted of a frequent standard tone (500 Hz), an infrequent oddball tone (1000 Hz), and an infrequent distracter (white noise), with all stimuli passively presented through headphones and no task imposed. The strongest meditation compared to control state effects occurred for the distracter stimuli: N1 amplitude from the distracter was reduced frontally during meditation; P2 amplitude from both the distracter and oddball stimuli were somewhat reduced during meditation; P3a amplitude from the distracter was reduced during meditation. The meditation-induced reduction in P3a amplitude was strongest in participants reporting more hours of daily meditation practice and was not evident in participants reporting drowsiness during their experimental meditative session. The findings suggest that meditation state can decrease the amplitude of neurophysiologic processes that subserve attentional engagement elicited by unexpected and distracting stimuli. Consistent with the aim of Vipassana meditation to reduce cognitive and emotional reactivity, the state effect of reduced P3a amplitude to distracting stimuli reflects decreased automated reactivity and evaluative processing of task irrelevant attention-demanding stimuli.

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Crossref · 10.1016/j.ijpsycho.2008.03.013

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Research works printed but not linked: 3

  1. Goddard PH 1992 Transcendental Meditation as an intervention in the aging of neurocognitive function: Reduced age-related declines of P300 latencies in elderly practitioners U.S.A. Dissertation Abstracts International 53 3189B
  2. Khushu S Telles S Kumaran S Naveen KV Tripathi RP 2000 Frontal activation during meditation based on functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) Indian Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology 44 34
  3. Wallace BA 1999 The Buddhist tradition of Samatha: Methods for refining and examining consciousness Journal of Consciousness Studies 6 175 187

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Authors
Cahn, B. R., & Polich, J.
Affiliations
  • University of California San Diego (US)
  • Scripps Research Institute (US)
Corresponding author
  • Cahn, B. Rael
  • Polich, John
Venue
International Journal of Psychophysiology
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2009-04
Volume
72
Issue
1
Pages
51-60
ISSN
0167-8760 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W2151226405
Cited by
202
References
94
Citations by year
2026: 7 · 2025: 6 · 2024: 9 · 2023: 9 · 2022: 12 · 2021: 10 · 2020: 20 · 2019: 16 · 2018: 11 · 2017: 13 · 2016: 10 · 2015: 8 · 2014: 14 · 2013: 13 · 2012: 13
FWCI
10.78
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • International Journal of Psychophysiology (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
Funders
  • Fetzer Institute
  • National Institutes of Health
  • National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (P50 AA 06420, P50AA006420, P60AA006420)
  • National Institute on Drug Abuse (R01DA018262, DA018262)
  • National Institute of General Medical Sciences
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Mindfulness and Compassion Interventions
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Mind wandering and attention
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Neural dynamics and brain function
Keywords
Vipassana meditation, P3a, event-related potentials, auditory oddball paradigm, attention, N1, P2, sleepiness, cognitive reactivity, emotional reactivity
MeSH terms
Acoustic Stimulation, Adult, Brain, Brain Mapping, Electroencephalography, Female, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Neuropsychological Tests, Psychophysics, Self-Assessment, Time Factors, Event-Related Potentials, P300, Meditation, Young Adult

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