Quantitative assessment of Heart Rate Dynamics during meditation: An ECG based study with Multi-fractality and visibility graph
Anirban eBhaduri, Dipak eGhosh
Frontiers in Physiology July 4, 2016 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2016.00044 (opens in new tab) via DOAJ
Summary
AI-generated from the abstractCardiac dynamics during meditation show measurable changes in complexity when analyzed with two non-linear techniques: multi-fractal detrended fluctuation analysis and visibility network analysis. Using instantaneous heart rate data from subjects performing Kundalini Yoga and Chi meditation, the study found consistent differences in quantitative parameters between the two analysis methods. These results suggest that meditation alters the fractal and network properties of heart rate variability, providing preliminary evidence that such techniques can serve as objective measures of the physiological impact of meditation.
Study at a glance
| Characteristics | Observational study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Population | Subjects performing Kundalini Yoga and Chi meditation |
| Interventions | Kundalini Yoga Chi meditation |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Keywords | Fractal Ecg Visibility graph Mf-dfa |
| Key finding | Consistent differences in quantitative parameters from multi-fractal detrended fluctuation analysis and visibility network analysis indicate changes in cardiac complexity during meditation. |
Abstract
Abstract: Abstract: The cardiac dynamics during meditation is explored quantitatively with two chaos-based non-linear techniques viz. multi-fractal detrended fluctuation analysis and visibility network analysis techniques. The data used are the instantaneous heart rate (in beats/minute) of subjects performing Kundalini Yoga and Chi meditation from PhysioNet. The results show consistent differences between the quantitative parameters obtained by both the analysis techniques. This indicates an interesting phenomenon of change in the complexity of the cardiac dynamics during meditation supported with quantitative parameters.The results also produce a preliminary evidence that these techniques can be used as a measure of physiological impact on subjects performing meditation.