Heart rate dynamics in different levels of Zen meditation.
International journal of cardiology November 5, 2010 Caroline Peressutti, Juan M Martín-González, Juan M García-Manso et al.
Heart rate variability (HRV) differs among practitioners of Zen meditation (Zazen) depending on their level of experience. Nineteen subjects with varying experience participated; in four cases both HRV and respiration were recorded. Analysis using frequency-domain methods and continuous wavelet transform showed that shifts in respiratory sinus arrhythmia (RSA) reflect differing levels of practice. The modulation of RSA may indicate changes in breathing patterns and parasympathetic outflow related to attention quality and focus in each stage of meditation.