Are all meditation techniques the same?
No, but the source is.
“Seeking resolution of and freedom from the dualities and diversity of outer life, we turn inward through the transcending process and allow our mind to move towards the unity of Being.”
— Dr. Sue Brown
Philosophy of Action, Maharishi International University
Categories of Meditation-
This category includes meditations from the Tibetan Buddhist (loving kindness and compassion), Buddhist (Zen and Diamond Way), and Chinese (Qigong) traditions. These procedures give rise to beta/gamma activity in the brain — seen during any active cognitive processing or control of the mind.
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This category includes meditations from the Buddhist (Mindfulness, and ZaZen), Chinese (Qigong), and Vedic (Sahaja Yoga) traditions. During practice of these procedures, the brain displays theta activity — seen when reflecting on mental concepts.
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This category includes Transcendental Meditation. It produces frontal alpha 1 coherence, which characterizes the state of inner wakefulness. Higher coherence indicates the brain’s prefrontal cortex, its “executive control center” is functioning in an integrated manner.
Meditation Changes in Alpha1 EEG Power
quantitative EEG data on alpha1 brain wave
(8–10 Hz) dynamics across various meditation typesTranscendental (TM) Frontal
Travis, 2020Mindfulness Meditation Frontal, Parietal
Chow et al., 2017Zen Meditation Frontal, Occipital
Huang & Lo, 2009Prayer (vs Meditation)Reduced alpha1 compared to meditation
Dobrakowski et al., 2020Transcendental Meditation (TM) consistently shows increased frontal alpha1 activity. Travis (2020) found that automatic self-transcending techniques like TM uniquely elevate frontal alpha1, distinguishing them from focused attention or open monitoring practices (PDF).
Mindfulness Meditation (MM) enhances alpha1 activity, but more diffusely. In a sham-controlled study, Chow et al. (2017) showed that MM led to moderate increases in alpha1 across multiple brain regions compared to alpha neurofeedback (PDF).
Prayer vs Meditation: Dobrakowski et al. (2020) noted distinct alpha1 and theta patterns depending on whether subjects engaged in contemplative prayer or meditation, with alpha1 more dominant during meditative states.
Zen Meditation practitioners showed elevated alpha1 in both frontal and parietal regions. Huang & Lo (2009) also observed complexity increases, indicating a unique state of alert relaxation.
Deolindo et al. (2020) recorded a rise in frontal alpha1 and theta during meditation, especially when compared with passive video viewing (PDF).
Comparing somatic relaxation to meditation, Kaur & Singh (2015) found that only meditative states sustained alpha1 in frontal cortex, while relaxation induced more occipital alpha1 increases (PDF).
Aftanas & Golosheykin (2005) showed significant increases in alpha1 after long-term meditation practice, with clear hemispheric differences across participants.