Long-term Buddhist meditation training induces gamma synchrony whose ratio to slow oscillations correlates with cumulative practice hours (r = 0.79)¶

Claim · All claims
Evidence · 1 study · review r2 · q2 · i3 large
Currency · newest study 2026 · not yet checked against its sources · not reviewed by a person

Subclaims¶

q2 i3 The review reports that long-term Buddhist meditation training induced high-amplitude gamma oscillations (25–42 Hz) and large-scale phase synchrony, with gamma-to-slow-oscillation ratios correlating positively with cumulative practice hours (r = 0.79) and remaining elevated at resting baseline. → Husain et al. 2026

Evidence¶

Husain et al. 2026¶

Husain, W., Ammar, A., Wusqa, U. T., Farooq, M., Tariq, Z., Pandi-Perumal, S. R., BaHammam, A. S., Trabelsi, K., Griffiths, M. D., Pakpour, A., & Jahrami, H. (2026). The Neuroscience of Religious and Spiritual Practices: A Systematic Review of Neurotheological Evidence. Brain and Behavior. doi:10.1002/brb3.71733

q2 · i3 · review · r2

Narrative review synthesis of EEG studies; the review reports, citing Lutz et al. 2004, a positive correlation of "gamma‐to‐slow‐oscillation ratios" with "cumulative practice hours (r = 0.79)". The printed correlation is the reported effect size.

"Long‐term Buddhist meditation training induced high‐amplitude gamma oscillations (25–42 Hz) and large‐scale neural phase synchrony during practice, with gamma‐to‐slow‐oscillation ratios correlating positively with cumulative practice hours (r = 0.79) and remaining elevated at resting baseline"

Discussion¶

Related Claims¶

• Meditation expertise follows an inverted-U: moderate practice hours show greater attention-network activation than novices, while very high hours show reduced activation — related
• Experienced meditators show reduced default mode network activation with enhanced PCC–dorsolateral PFC connectivity during meditation — related
• Deliberate practice research is largely correlational with large unexplained variability in accumulated practice hours — related