Key result
Heartfulness meditation increased EEG low-beta power by 173.2% (g = 2.31) and gamma power by 109.6% (g = 1.03) from baseline, indicating a potential trend toward neural-autonomic regulation.
Why the study?
Do heartfulness and bell meditation improve neurophysiological and autonomic patterns in healthy male university students?
RCT (n=9)
Randomized
No
Do heartfulness and bell meditation improve neurophysiological and autonomic patterns in healthy male university students?
Standardized Mean Difference: 2.31 (95% CI 1.07–3.55)
Absolute Event Rate: 173.2% vs 10.1%
Brief heartfulness and bell meditation practices may induce distinct neurophysiological and autonomic changes, with heartfulness enhancing gamma activity and bell meditation promoting low-beta activity.
Supports distinct neurophysiological effects of brief meditations in healthy males; extends RCT evidence on technique-specific EEG changes.
Meditation facilitates brain–body integration by synchronizing neural oscillations with autonomic rhythms. Nonetheless, the effects of heartfulness (heart-centered) and bell (sound-based) meditation on electroencephalography (EEG) and autonomic markers remain insufficiently explored. In this randomized, exploratory pilot study, nine healthy male university students were allocated to the heartfulness meditation group (HMG; n = 3), bell meditation group (BMG; n = 3), or control group (CG; n = 3) for 21 days (30 min per session, 5 days per week). Resting EEG gamma and low-beta activity (12–15 Hz), blood volume pulse (BVP)-derived heart rate (HR), and heart-rate variability (HRV) indices, including low-frequency percentage (LF%) and HRV amplitude, were recorded both pre- and post-intervention. The analyses were descriptive and summarized using Hedges’ g and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). The HMG exhibited exhibited observed increases in gamma and low-beta (g ≈ 1.0–2.3), the BMG demonstrated a very observed low-beta activity increase with a small gamma change, and the CG showed minimal change in both parameters. HR decreased across all groups, LF% declined in the HMG and BMG but increased in the CG, and HRV amplitude decreased in all groups. These preliminary observations indicate a potential trend toward neural–autonomic regulation, with heartfulness emphasizing attentional engagement and bell emphasizing relaxation. The limitations include the very small, male-only sample, brief duration, and reliance on BVP-derived HRV. Larger, adequately powered trials with more comprehensive EEG/HRV metrics and behavioral outcomes are required to confirm these findings.
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Mahato et al. (2026) conducted an RCT in Healthy (n=9). Heartfulness meditation vs. Usual-routine control was evaluated on Pre-post change in EEG Low-Beta power (g 2.31, 95% CI 1.07, 3.55). Heartfulness meditation increased EEG low-beta power by 173.2% (g = 2.31) and gamma power by 109.6% (g = 1.03) from baseline, indicating a potential trend toward neural-autonomic regulation.
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