Does Earthing Improve Cognition? – The Answer Appears to Be Yes

Tejasvani Knowledge Desk

Earthing (or grounding) – allowing the human body to directly connect with the earth’s electrical field – is emerging as a highly promising protocol for supporting cognitive function, mood, and overall neurological health.

At Tejasvani, we first used earthing protocols for children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The improvements in regulation, calmness, and attention were strong enough that we now apply the same methods for individuals with cognitive impairments, chronic inflammation, depression, and general nervous system imbalance.

Traditionally, we used copper metal mesh, which is highly effective but expensive and difficult to handle. Now, newer carbon grounding mats have become available — cleaner, affordable, and easier to use. We are currently testing these mats and will begin offering optimized grounding protocols next week. This is a highly recommended health practice.

Why Earthing Works: The Brain Responds to Earth's Frequencies

The human brain naturally resonates with the Earth’s electromagnetic frequency, known as the Schumann Resonance. Using EEG monitoring, researchers have shown:

• The brain synchronizes with Earth’s electrical fields in real time.

• This coupling occurs at the exact frequency and signal strength required for a subtle “planet-to-brain ping” without disrupting cognitive thought.(Persinger MA, Saroka KS, 2015)

This suggests the Earth may directly support our intellectual and neurological function.

Instant Brainwave Shifts When Grounded

In double-blinded studies:

• Grounding causes immediate changes in brainwave patterns.(Sokal P & Sokal K, 2011)

• EEG changes occur within milliseconds of grounding.(Rahman et al., 2018)

Most importantly, grounding increases alpha waves — the same calm, alert, receptive brain state seen during meditation. This is a powerful state for healing, learning, and focused thinking.

Barefoot Walking Improves Cognitive Speed & Focus

A 2024 study (Kim T et al.) compared three groups over 12 weeks:

• Barefoot outdoor walking

• Walking in shoes

• Control group

The findings were striking:

• Only the barefoot (grounded) group showed:

  • Significant increase in alpha waves

  • Significant decrease in beta waves (stress/overthinking)

  • Measurable improvement in cognitive speed

  • Improved concentration and information-processing ability

  • Reduced brain stress and fatigue

Those who walked in shoes experienced no cognitive benefit, proving the effect comes from grounding itself, not exercise.

Earthing Reduces Stress Hormones (CRF & Cortisol)

Animal studies show grounding reduces levels of CRF, a key hormone that triggers stress and anxiety.Human studies confirm the same pattern:

• Sleeping grounded for two months normalized cortisol levels, reduced pain, and improved mood.(Ghaly & Teplitz, 2004)

This directly explains why grounding leads to a calmer, more balanced mental state.

Benefits for Neurodegenerative Conditions

Even brains already under degenerative stress respond positively to grounding. Alzheimer’s patients experienced:

• 62% improvement in sleep quality after 12 weeks of sleeping grounded.

Since neuroinflammation is strongly linked to cognitive disorders like MCI and dementia, grounding’s anti-inflammatory effect may be a key protective mechanism.

Grounding, Inflammation & Depression

Inflammation is now known to worsen depression by affecting:

• Energy

• Appetite

• Motivation

• Sleep

• Concentration

• Pleasure response (anhedonia)

A meta-analysis of 14 randomized controlled trials (6,300+ patients) found that reducing inflammation significantly improves depressive symptoms.

Grounding mirrors this effect:

• In double-blinded trials, just 40 minutes of grounding improved mood significantly more than sham grounding.

• Grounding reduces inflammatory markers such as IP-10, MIP-1α, and sP-Selectin by 10–20%.

This inflammation reduction likely restores dopamine signalling, explaining improved motivation, emotional stability, and mental clarity.

Conclusion: A Natural, Powerful Cognitive Support Protocol

The evidence aligns across multiple domains:

• Brainwave optimization (↑ alpha, ↓ beta)

• Reduced cortisol & CRF

• Improved cognitive speed and focus

• Better sleep and mood

• Reduced inflammation & neuroinflammation

• Increased dopamine-related motivation

Earthing is one of the simplest, most cost-effective, and biologically sound methods for supporting brain function — whether for autism, cognitive impairment, depression, or general neurological health.

With carbon mats now available, grounding becomes even more accessible and practical for everyday use.

Tejasvani will be releasing updated grounding protocols next week after final testing.