An Investigation of the Immediate Effects of Mindfulness Meditation on Mental Stress Using Wearable Electroencephalography

Straaten, Eefke van (2024) An Investigation of the Immediate Effects of Mindfulness Meditation on Mental Stress Using Wearable Electroencephalography. Bachelor's Thesis, Artificial Intelligence.

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Abstract

The omnipresence of daily stressors has a negative impact on human life. Mindfulness meditation (MM) has proven to be an effective remedy against psychological stress. This study aims to investigate the immediate neurophysiological effects of MM on mental stress. Electroencephalography (EEG) data was collected from the prefrontal cortex and temporoparietal junction of 13 adults while performing a Montreal Imaging Stress Task (MIST). Participants were randomly divided into either the test or the active control group. The participants performed one baseline MIST, one stressful MIST before, and one stressful MIST after listening to either a guided MM or an audiobook. Accuracy and stress levels as well as both α- and β-power and the β/α-ratio were computed. MM resulted in a significant decrease in stress levels, while listening to an audiobook did not. The hypotheses that α-power would increase more after MM than after the audiobook and that β-power and the β/α-ratio would decrease more after MM than after the audiobook, was not supported by any significant EEG results. Although insignificant, both α- and β-power did show more responsiveness after MM than after the audiobook, providing a promising basis for future research. Given the limitations of the current study, further investigation is needed to address the gaps.

Item Type:	Thesis (Bachelor's Thesis)
Supervisor name:	Vortmann, L.
Degree programme:	Artificial Intelligence
Thesis type:	Bachelor's Thesis
Language:	English
Date Deposited:	09 Aug 2024 09:05
Last Modified:	09 Aug 2024 09:05
URI:	https://fse.studenttheses.ub.rug.nl/id/eprint/33890

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