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For the first time, researchers have demonstrated that different types of Buddhist meditation, namely  the Vajrayana and Theravada styles of meditation, induces qualitatively different influences on human physiology and behavior. 

According to researchers, Vajrayana meditation, related to Tibetan Buddhism, can lead to enhancements in cognitive performance. 

Earlier, studies defined meditation as a relaxation response. Studies also attempted to categorize meditation as either involving focused or distributed attentional systems. However neither of these beliefs were proved scientifically. 

The newest study examines four different types of meditative practices: two types of Vajrayana meditations (Tibetan Buddhism) practices (Visualisation of self-generation-as-Deity and Rig-pa) and two types of Theravada practices (Shamatha and Vipassana).  They collected electrocardiographic (EKG) and electroencephalographic (EEG) response while measuring behavioral performance on cognitive tasks on the practitioners. 

Researchers observed that physiological responses during the  Theravada meditation differ remarkably from those during the Vajrayana meditation. Theravada meditation evoked enhanced parasympathetic activation (relaxation). 

Vajrayana meditation on the other hand, did not show any evidence of parasympathetic activity but initiated the activation of the sympathetic system (arousal).

 "Vajrayana meditation typically requires years of practice, so we are also looking into whether it is also possible to acquire the beneficial effects of brain performance by practicing certain essential elements of the meditation. This would provide an effective and practical method for non-practitioners to quickly increase brain performance in times of need," said Associate Professor Maria Kozhevnikov in the press release. 

The study has been published in the journal PLOS ONE.