Meditation is often linked with calmness, focus, and emotional balance. But scientists now believe it may also help the brain stay healthier as we age. A new study by researchers at the Centre for Neuroscience, Indian Institute of Science (IISc) suggests that long-term meditation can strengthen certain brain activities that usually weaken with age or neurological diseases. What are brain waves? Our brains constantly produce tiny electrical signals known as brain waves or brain oscillations. These rhythmic signals appear when groups of brain cells (neurons) fire together. Different brain waves play different roles in thinking, memory, attention, and perception. As people grow older or develop neurological conditions some of these brain signals become weaker. The new research shows that meditation may help keep some of these important signals strong. Meditation and stronger brain activity Earlier studies had already shown that meditation increases slower brain waves such as theta and alpha, which are linked with relaxation and focus. Scientists have also noticed that experienced meditators often show stronger gamma waves. These faster brain waves are connected to attention, learning, perception, and higher thinking. However, previous research mostly found a general rise in gamma activity without identifying specific patterns. The new study wanted to see whether meditation could influence a more precise type of brain signal called stimulus-induced gamma oscillations. How the study was conducted Neuroscientist Supratim Ray and his team worked with practitioners of Brahma Kumaris Rajyoga meditation. Unlike many meditation styles, Rajyoga is practiced with open eyes. This allowed scientists to measure how the brain reacts to visual signals during meditation. Researchers used Electroencephalography (EEG), a safe method that records electrical brain activity. Participants were shown visual patterns, including black-and-white striped images, which are known to trigger gamma brain waves in the visual cortex. The study compared: What the researchers found The results were striking. Meditators showed much stronger stimulus-induced gamma activity than non-meditators. They also displayed higher broadband gamma activity across several brain regions, including the frontal, temporal, and parietal lobes. Interestingly, the two types of gamma signals worked independently, suggesting meditation activates multiple brain mechanisms at the same time. A possible shield against cognitive decline Another key discovery involved something called the aperiodic spectral slope, a measure of brain activity that usually declines with age. Meditators had a steeper slope, which indicates stronger inhibitory brain circuits that help keep brain activity stable. According to researchers, this suggests that long-term meditation may support brain functions that normally weaken over time. In the future, regular meditation might even help improve resilience against cognitive decline and diseases such as Alzheimer’s.
