Changes in theta rhythm due to meditation in patients with schizophrenia: on‐going research

Abstract

Objective: Studies suggest that theta activity can be modified by meditation techniques in healthy adults. Aftanas and Golocheikine (2001) report that during meditation, EEG patterns are characterised by increased theta power over anterior midline electrodes of both general theta and frontal midline theta processes (brainwave patterns). We propose a study to see whether meditation can modify theta activity in patients with schizophrenia (who already have impaired low frequency oscillatory activity in the theta and delta frequency bands) when compared to control participants. Materials & Methods: EEG will be recorded for 5 min during resting with eyes open (providing an unconstrained baseline condition) and also while the participant engages in a non-demanding visual target detection task for 5 min (to provide a comparison condition in which attention is directed externally). EEG will then be recorded continuously while the participant engages in meditation (breathing rhythmically whilst counting each breath) for 30 min. After the procedure is complete, EEG will again be recorded during resting for 5 min and while the participant engages in the non-demanding visual target detection during two post-meditation time intervals to assess whether changes in patterns of brain activity are sustained. Results: This is an ongoing study (funding is being sought) and therefore there are no results at present. However, it is expected that meditation will modify low frequency oscillatory activity Conclusion: Meditation will provide a patient-centred, non-invasive technique which might have a beneficial effect on cognitive function in schizophrenia.