Distinct Patterns of Directed Brain Connectivity in Focused Attention, Open Monitoring, and Loving Kindness Meditation: An Electroencephalographic Granger Causality Study with Long-term Meditators

Kolev, V, Beshkov, K, Malinowski, P ORCID: 0000-0001-5074-4508, Raffone, A and Yordanova, J (2026) Distinct Patterns of Directed Brain Connectivity in Focused Attention, Open Monitoring, and Loving Kindness Meditation: An Electroencephalographic Granger Causality Study with Long-term Meditators. Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience, 38 (8). pp. 1527-1540. ISSN 0898-929X

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Abstract

The present study applied spectral Granger causality (GC) analysis to EEG recordings obtained during focused attention meditation (FAM), open monitoring meditation (OMM), and loving kindness meditation (LKM) in highly experienced meditators. The aim of the investigation was to characterize distinct connectivity signatures associated with each meditation style by examining the strength, frequency, and direction of interregional interactions. These differences were expected to specify the neural connectivity profiles of the cognitive and affective state of each meditative practice. Multivariate GC was computed from high-resolution EEG signals recorded from long-term meditators (n = 22) in four conditions: rest, FAM, OMM, and LKM. GC was analyzed in the frequency domain for key electrode clusters (anterior and posterior) in the two hemispheres to compare frequency-specific directed connectivity between rest and each meditation type. Main results demonstrated that each meditation state produced highly specific alterations in directed influences relative to rest. In FAM, there was significant reduction in posterior-to-anterior GC in the alpha and beta bands as well as decreased multispectral interhemispheric frontal GC implying attenuated bottom–up sensory and associative inputs. In OMM, multispectral GC was significantly increased from the left hemisphere to the right posterior cluster implying expanded awareness in the right posterior regions through enhanced top–down modulation by the left hemisphere. The distinctive features of LKM profile were the interhemispheric symmetry, the posterior–anterior bidirectionality, and the specific beta-band engagement, implying a coactivation of systems that support an emotionally balanced stance, equanimity, and prosocial attitude. These novel findings demonstrate that the direction and frequency specificity of information flows provide complementary insights into neural processes underlying distinct meditative states.

Item Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Brain; Neural Pathways; Humans; Electroencephalography; Meditation; Brain Mapping; Attention; Adult; Middle Aged; Female; Male; Brain Waves; Humans; Meditation; Electroencephalography; Male; Female; Brain; Attention; Brain Mapping; Middle Aged; Neural Pathways; Adult; Brain Waves; 3208 Medical Physiology; 32 Biomedical and Clinical Sciences; Complementary and Integrative Health; Clinical Research; Neurosciences; Behavioral and Social Science; Basic Behavioral and Social Science; Humans; Meditation; Electroencephalography; Male; Female; Brain; Attention; Brain Mapping; Middle Aged; Neural Pathways; Adult; Brain Waves; Research Centre for Brain and Behaviour (RCBB); 1109 Neurosciences; 1701 Psychology; 1702 Cognitive Sciences; Experimental Psychology; 3209 Neurosciences; 5202 Biological psychology; 5204 Cognitive and computational psychology
Subjects:	B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BF Psychology
Divisions:	Psychology (from Sep 2019)
Publisher:	MIT Press
Date of acceptance:	1 April 2026
Date of first compliant Open Access:	17 October 2026
Date Deposited:	16 Oct 2026 14:46
Last Modified:	17 Oct 2026 00:50
DOI or ID number:	10.1162/JOCN.a.2593
URI:	https://researchonline.ljmu.ac.uk/id/eprint/29689

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