EEG Traced Microstates Detection during Meditation- A State of Consciousness

Abstract

This paper presents a case study to detect the state of consciousness in meditation research. Specifically in this study, 23 long-term Kriya Yoga (KY) practitioners have participated. The microstate is one of the ways to detect Spatiotemporal activity of brain dynamics in specific cognitive traits using Global Field Potential (GFP). This investigation shows the recognition of short periods during which the electroencephalograph (EEG) scalp topography stays quasi stable, recognized as ‘microstates’.Considering the hypothesis that the human brain is active even when there is no explicit input or output stimulus. Surprisingly, EEG topographical patterns remain fixed in one particular global functional state at a precise moment in microseconds. Our findings indicated that the microstate in the episodic period of 150-220ms was associated with the higher label of consciousness in the meditator group. The present study has provided a functional interpretation of brain dynamics in the meditator group which has been verified in all subjects.