There is a positive correlation between time spent doing mindfulness meditation and increases in arousals, awakenings, and stage 1, and decreases in slow wave sleep. In other words, the more meditation practice one does, the more pronounced an effect on increasing arousal and decreasing deep sleep.


Correlations between meditation practice and sleep arousal

Arousing effects of mindfulness meditation practices is more pronounced in higher amounts of meditation practice and it is possible that lower amounts of mindfulness meditation practice may have a sedative effect while higher amounts may be associated with arousal

University of California, Davis

Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy group demonstrates suppressed slow wave sleep and slightly significant increases in arousal, awakenings and stage 1 sleep after treatment compared to control group. Arousal and lighter sleep correlated with higher mindfulness meditation amounts.

Mindfulness training associated with arousal in polysomnographic sleep profiles


Britton, W. B., Haynes, P. L., Fridel, K. W., &amp; Bootzin, R. R. (2010). Polysomnographic and subjective profiles of sleep continuity before and after mindfulness-based cognitive therapy in partially remitted depression. Psychosomatic Medicine, 72(6), 539–548. https://doi.org/10.1097/psy.0b013e3181dc1bad 

Polysomnographic and Subjective Profiles of Sleep Continuity Before and After Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy in Partially Remitted Depression

Relationship between amount of meditation practice and sleep arousal

Certain forms of contemplative training may reduce the need for sleep.

Meditators may be sleeping during meditation practice.

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