Contrary to the common belief, meditation is not about creating “emptiness in the mind.” A new international study has shown that during meditation the brain does not become inactive; on the contrary, it enters a state of heightened and uniquely organized activity. The study was published in the journal Neuroscience of Consciousness.

A team led by Karim Jerbi from the University of Montreal studied the brains of 12 Buddhist monks from the Thai forest tradition, each with an average of more than 15,000 hours of meditation practice. Brain scans were conducted using magnetoencephalography — a method that records magnetic fields generated by the electrical activity of neurons. This technology allows researchers to observe brain dynamics in real time with high precision.

The researchers analyzed two types of meditation. Samatha involves focusing on a single object, such as breathing, to stabilize attention. Vipassana is a more open practice that involves observing sensations, thoughts, and emotions without judgment. According to the authors, the first narrows the “beam of attention,” while the second expands it.

Both techniques significantly altered patterns of brain activity, though in different ways. Scientists observed changes in neural oscillations, increased signal complexity, and a shift toward so-called “brain criticality” — a state balancing order and chaos. In neuroscience, criticality is considered an optimal functional point: neural networks are stable enough to reliably transmit information while remaining flexible enough to rapidly adapt to new conditions.

The data showed that Vipassana meditation brought the brain closer to this optimal state more strongly, whereas Samatha produced a more stable and focused condition. Greater brain “flexibility” may explain why meditation is used in programs aimed at reducing anxiety and depression: it helps decrease tendencies toward repetitive negative thinking and improves emotional self-regulation.

The authors emphasize that beginners do not need many years of experience to feel benefits, although a novice brain does not immediately reach the same indicators as that of an expert. As in sports, much depends on motivation and regular practice.