Neurobehavioural Exploration of Breath-counting & Breath-awareness in Novice Indian Meditators: A Naturalised Ānāpānasati-based Paradigmatic Approach

Background: Neural activity and subjective experiences indicate that breath-awareness practices, which focus on mindful observation of breath, promote tranquil calm and thoughtless awareness.

Purpose: This study explores the impact of tristage Ānāpānasati-based breath meditation on electroencephalography (EEG) oscillations and self-reported mindfulness states in novice meditators following a period of effortful cognition.

Methods: Eighty-nine novice meditators (82 males; Mean Age = 24.59 years) underwent a breath-based meditation intervention consisting of three stages: Resting State (RS), Breath Counting (BC), and Breath Focus (BF). EEG assessed neural oscillatory changes throughout the three stages while providing spectral indices for arousal and cognitive workload (CWL) stagewise. State mindfulness and breath awareness-related self-reported feedback were also collected using the Amsterdam Resting-State Questionnaire (ARSQ) post-BF stage and the curated Breath Count Feedback (BCF) post-BC stage, respectively. The internal reliability and construct validity of the standardised ARSQ and the designed BCF were satisfactorily computed within our sample. A within-subjects cross-sectional neurobehavioural examination of the breath self-regulatory novice experiences was thus conducted.

Results: The breath-based intervention significantly increased alpha power across all stages, indicating relaxation. Theta and delta powers increased during BC and BF in the prefrontal cortex (PFC), suggesting enhanced working memory and focused attention. Gamma power in meditation-associated brain regions and occipital beta oscillations showed significant positive correlations with breath counts, reflecting improved visual and attentional concentration. Lower pre-meditative arousal and smaller in-meditation CWL levels were associated with fewer distractions and increased confidence accuracy during BC.

Conclusion: The results suggest that BC may serve as a valuable tool for improving present-centric control and concentration, highlighting the importance of managing CWL and arousal levels to optimise meditation outcomes.