Electroencephalographic (EEG) measurements of mindfulness-based Triarchic body-pathway relaxation technique: a pilot study.
OBJECTIVE
The "Triarchic body-pathway relaxation technique" (TBRT) is a form of ancient Chinese mindfulness-based meditation professed to give rise to positive emotions and a specific state of consciousness in which deep relaxation and internalized attention coexist. The purpose of this study was to examine the EEG pattern generated during the practice of this mindfulness exercise, and compare it to music listening which has been shown to induce positive emotions.


METHODS
Nineteen college students (aged 19-22 years) participated in the study. Each participant listened to both the TBRT and music audiotapes while EEG was recorded. The order of presentation was counterbalanced to avoid order effect. Two EEG indicators were used: (1) alpha asymmetry index, an indicator for left-sided anterior activation, as measure of positive emotions, and (2) frontal midline theta activity, as a measure for internalized attention.


RESULTS
Increased left-sided activation, a pattern associated with positive emotions, was found during both TBRT exercise and music conditions. However, only TBRT exercise was shown to exhibit greater frontal midline theta power, a pattern associated with internalized attention.


CONCLUSIONS
These results provided evidence to support that the TBRT gives rise to positive emotional experience, accompanied by focused internalized attention.
Chan
Agnes S
AS
Neuropsychology Laboratory, Department of Psychology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, New Territories, Hong Kong SAR. aschan@psy.cuhk.edu.hk
Han
Yvonne M Y
YM
Cheung
Mei-Chun
MC
D000328:Adult; D000513:Alpha Rhythm; D001143:Arousal / Q000502:physiology; D001288:Attention / Q000502:physiology; D001931:Brain Mapping; D004292:Dominance, Cerebral / Q000502:physiology; D004569:Electroencephalography; D004644:Emotions / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D005625:Frontal Lobe / Q000502:physiology; D006723:Hong Kong; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D019122:Meditation / Q000379:methods* / Q000523:psychology; D009146:Music; D010865:Pilot Projects; D012815:Signal Processing, Computer-Assisted; D013826:Theta Rhythm