Neurocognitive effects of guided moving meditation on divergent thinking and neural coherence in agri-entrepreneurs: An EEG study

Creativity is a cornerstone of adaptive problem-solving and innovation, yet its neural basis remains insufficiently understood in real-world entrepreneurial contexts. This randomized controlled study investigated the influence of Guided Moving Meditation (GMM) on creative cognition and neural coordination in adult agri-entrepreneurs. Fifty-four right-handed male agri-entrepreneurs (25–45 years) were randomly assigned to the GMM group ( n = 27) or a Supine Rest control group (SR; n = 27) for twelve weeks (35 min/day, five days/week). Creative cognition was evaluated using the Alternative Uses Task, and neural activity in frontotemporal regions was assessed using electroencephalography (EEG) in agri-entrepreneurs before and after the intervention. In the GMM group, EEG spectral analysis indicated significant reductions in delta, theta, and alpha power, along with significant increases in beta and gamma power, while coherence analysis revealed increased delta, theta, and alpha coherence and decreased beta coherence in the anterior frontal region. Exploratory mediation analyses using change scores (Δ PSD, Δ coherence, and Δ fluency) did not support a significant mediating role of beta-band coherence in the relationship between neural oscillatory changes and creative performance. In addition, behavioral results demonstrated significant gains in fluency, flexibility, originality, and elaboration following GMM. These findings suggest that GMM facilitates a neurophysiological state characterized by altered neural coordination and cognitive flexibility, which may be relevant to creative cognition in agri-entrepreneurs.