While meditation is known to have many benefits, something that practically everyone needs for day to day activities are focused attention and good working memory. Working memory is the ability of the mind, related to better information processing to perform complex cognitive tasks such as learning and reasoning. With a better working memory you can be more productive in the tasks you do during the day.

According to a study conducted (Spectral Changes during Concentrative Meditation) at Centre of Behavioral and Cognitive Sciences, University of Alahabaad, India in 2007, Sahaj Samadhi Meditation can enhance one’s focused attention and working memory ability.

Sahaj Samadhi Meditation

Sahaj Samadhi Meditation is form of meditation where attention is focused on a mantra that is taken during the meditation.

Regular practise of the technique can totally transform the quality of one’s life, by culturing the system to maintain the peace, energy and expanded awareness throughout the day.

According to the research long term practice of Sahaj Samadhi Meditation can result in positive changes in one’s behavior and brain activity. This includes increase in theta activity especially in the frontal region of the brain.

Theta activity is typically a form of brain wave and is associated with focused attention and working memory.

The Experiment

The experiment was performed to study the changes in brain activity across major stages of meditation and compare it with a group of same aged non-meditators. They aimed to compare oscillatory changes in one of the standard frequency bands (Theta) during meditation (for meditators) and relaxation (for non-meditators).

The study was conducted on a group of 20 people (10 meditators and 10 non-meditators) in a sound-proof, dimly lit room, conducive for the group to meditate. The meditators were regular practitioners of meditation from three to seven years, while the non-meditator group had no experience in meditation.

The meditators were required to do Sudarshan Kriya, which is a rhythmic breathing process (10-12 minutes), followed by Sahaj Samadhi Meditation (8-10 minutes). Correspondingly, the non-meditator group was asked to relax for durations that approximately matched with those of meditators.

EEG data was recorded and analyzed with a 64-channel Neuroscan system with a sampling frequency of 1000 Hz.

The meditators were interviewed using a structured questionnaire format before and after the EEG recording to learn quality of experiences during meditation; and if their experience in the laboratory was different from their everyday practice. The subjective reports revealed that meditators were able to successfully perform meditation in the laboratory that was no different from their daily practice.

The Analysis and Result

The analysis of the EEG recorded revealed differences in the theta percentage powers between the two group. The meditators showed increased percentage theta power as compared to non-meditators suggesting that meditators had better focused attention and working memory.

The study also showed an overall decrease in alpha power (another important frequency band of the brain) for meditators than non-meditators implying that daily practice of meditation results in increased alertness and attention.