Examining the Feasibility of an EEG Brain-Computer Interface Device in Assessing Mindfulness in Mediation Naive Rural Adults: A Pilot Study

The potential for mobile and technology-based research has grown with increasing development and access to internet, computer, and smartphone devices and applications. Recent developments in technology and software have allowed novice to intermediate researchers the capability of collecting EEG data in laboratory settings using low-cost, minimally-invasive devices. Our study utilized a dry sensor device to assess electrical activity in the brain during a 30-minute session with the aim of determining meditation levels. Participants were recruited from a rural community and randomly assigned to a recorded guided body scan (n=20) or placebo (n=19) condition and completed 3 self-report measures of trait mindfulness. Participants were instructed to relax with their eyes closed while listening to the audio recording. Those in the placebo condition listened to relaxing music with nature sounds. Participants received a $20 gift card incentive. We hypothesized that (1) EEG meditation scores would positively correlate with self-report scores and (2) body scan participants would evidence higher EEG meditation scores. A third aim was to explore how the association between EEG meditation scores and self-report scores vary by instrument. Demographic characteristics were: mean age 35.4 yrs (min=20 yrs, max=68 yrs); 59% female; 97% White, non-Hispanic, 3% Hispanic; 74% married, 13% never married, 13% other. Results indicated that EEG meditation scores were significantly correlated (