Brainwaves are tiny electrical signals produced when large groups of brain cells fire in coordinated patterns. They are commonly measured with EEG (electroencephalography), which uses sensors on the scalp to detect these signals. In everyday terms: an EEG is like a microphone outside a stadium—it can pick up the “crowd noise” (overall patterns), but it cannot precisely hear each individual voice (single brain cells).

That’s why brainwave data can show broad states like “more relaxed” or “more alert,” but it usually can’t prove specific thoughts, “deep healing,” or a single perfect “meditation brainwave.”

In research reviews, meditation is often linked with more activity in slower rhythms like alpha and theta, especially in experienced practitioners, and with changes that fit improved attention control (for example, how the brain allocates attention during tasks). Importantly, results vary a lot by meditation style, experience level, and study methods, so it’s not as simple as “meditation creates one ideal frequency.” Still, the overall picture suggests meditation can shift brain activity in ways that match calmer, more stable attention—but the exact pattern is not universal.

A major reason the topic gets confusing is that EEG signals are easy to distort. Eye blinks, forehead muscle tension, jaw clenching, and even poor sensor contact can look like “brain changes” if the data is handled poorly. A commentary on EEG meditation research highlights that these measurement issues are common and can help explain why studies sometimes disagree.  That same problem shows up in consumer products.

A 2024 study that trained beginners for eight weeks found measurable changes mainly at rest, but not reliably during the meditation session itself, and it explicitly raised doubts about how useful wearable biofeedback is for tracking progress during meditation—at least in early stages.  Taken together, the science supports meditation as a practice that can change brain and body patterns over time, but it does not support the idea that a headband can consistently “read your meditation depth” with precision.