Concentration and mindfulness meditations: Unique forms of consciousness?

Author(s): Hartigan, J. A., Mikulas, W. L.

Journal/Book: Appl Psychophysiol Biofeedbac. 1999; 24: 233 Spring St, New York, NY 10013, USA. Kluwer Academic/Plenum Publ. 147-165.

Abstract: Electroencephalographic (EEG) recordings from 19 scalp recording sites were used to differentiate among two posited unique forms of mediation, concentration and mindfulness, and a normal relaxation control condition. Analyzes of all traditional frequency bandwidth data (i.e., delta 1-3 Hz; theta, 4-7 Hz; alpha, 8-12 Hz; beta 1, 13-25 Hz; beta 2, 26-32 Hz) showed strong mean amplitude frequency differences between the two meditation conditions and relaxation over numerous cortical sites. Furthermore, significant differences were obtained between concentration and mindfulness states at all bandwidths. Taken together, our results suggest that concentration and mindfulness ''meditations'' may be unique forms of consciousness and are not merely degrees of a state of relaxation.

Note: Article Dunn BR, Univ W Florida, Inst Human & Machine Cognit, 11000 Univ Pkwy, Pensacola,FL 32514 USA

Keyword(s): meditation; EEG; consciousness; EEG

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