Every medicine takes time to show results. Likewise, meditation also doesn’t work instantly. Research indicate that regular practice of meditation is much more fruitful. Conducted on a group of meditators of Isha Yoga Foundation, the results of the research have been documented in the journal, Mindfulness.

The team which conducted the study was led by Dr. Balachundhar Subramaniam, a professor of anesthesiology at Harvard Medical School. Dr. Subramaniam is also the director of Sadhguru Center for a Conscious Planet at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston, a research lab that studies the intersection of science and spirit.

Methodology Of Experiment

Data collected using electroencephalography was analysed by the team to arrive at the results. Participants divided into novice and advanced were asked to wear an EEG cap with 128 channels. A control group was created to see whether the same effect happened on those who were not trained to do meditation in the Isha Yoga tradition.

Neural activity in meditators was recorded after specific time intervals. Using the EEG, researchers tried to pinpoint the exact time at which the changes in brain activity began.

What does the study reveal?

Brain activity in advanced meditators showed a consistently high frequency in Theta and Alpha bands. Interestingly, the frequency decreased in the first 1 minute and then the power steadily increased. Theta and Apha bands are associated with deep relaxation. Meditators irrespective of whether they were trained or not, experienced the highest neural activity after 7 minutes.

Implications of the study

Meditation doesn’t have the same effect on everyone. The effect varies depending on the experience of a meditator. Techniques may not work equally well for all age groups and social strata. Meditation retreats which are being promoted for mindfulness are not accessible to everyone.  The study indicated that digital platforms like meditation apps can be a practical solution.