Effect of Meditation on Galvanic Skin Response

Regular meditation practice for three months significantly increased galvanic skin response (GSR)—a measure of skin conductance linked to relaxation—in healthy young adults. In a study of 50 medical student volunteers aged 18–25, GSR was measured before and after a program of 20-minute meditation sessions five times per week for three months. The median GSR rose from 267.5 to 534.5, a statistically significant change. The authors conclude that meditation promotes relaxation and may help reduce stress and anxiety by enhancing parasympathetic nervous system activity.

Study at a glance

Abstract

Background: Meditation is a mental practice in which a person intentionally focuses their mind on a particular object, thought, sensation or awareness to cultivate calmness, clarity, emotional balance and heightened consciousness. Meditation significantly influences the autonomic nervous system by reducing sympathetic activity and enhancing parasympathetic activity. Aim: The present study was conducted to find out the effect of regular meditation practice on galvanic skin response (GSR) in apparently healthy medical undergraduates. Methodology: An experimental study was conducted in the Department of Physiology on 50 apparently healthy MBBS student volunteers aged 18- 25 years. Baseline GSR recordings were obtained prior to the meditation sessions. The meditation sessions were kept for 20 minutes a day, five times a week for three months. GSR recordings were again taken after the completion of the three months meditation program. The pre & post- intervention values of GSR were compared using the Wilcoxon Signed- rank test. Result: A statistically significant increase in GSR was observed in the participants after three months of regular meditation sessions. The median interquartile range (IQR) of GSR increased from 267.5 to 534.5 with a p- value of < 0.001. Conclusion: Regular meditation practice for three months resulted in a significant increase in galvanic skin response (GSR) in apparently healthy young individuals. Therefore, meditation can be used as an effective method to promote relaxation and reduce stress and anxiety. Key words: Meditation, galvanic skin response, electro dermal response, skin conductance