Effect of Meditation on electro encephalographic graph (EEG), blood pressure, heart rate and respiratory rate
R Sundarachari, VK Dhanasree Naidu, Prashant Kokiwar, B. V. Surendra
MRIMS Journal of Health Sciences 2013 DOI: 10.4103/2321-7006.301940 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Observational cohort Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 40 |
| Population | Healthy individuals who practiced meditation regularly for five years and healthy individuals who never practiced meditation |
| Intervention | Meditation |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Keywords | Heart rate Blood pressure Electroencephalography Respiratory rate Cardiology Respiratory system Anesthesia Audiology |
| Citations | 1 |
| Key findings | Meditators showed increased alpha activity in the occipital region and decreased beta activity in the parietal region, along with reduced diastolic blood pressure, heart rate, and respiratory rate compared to non-meditators. |
Abstract
Background: Ancient India presented to the world a great solution in the form of Meditation. Meditation is one healthy means which control the brain electrical activity to maintain a good health and healthy society.
Objective: To study the effect of meditation on electro encephalograph and on other parameters like blood pressure, heart rate and respiratory rate.
Methods: Twenty healthy individuals who were practicing meditation regularly since last five years were compared with 20 healthy individuals who never practiced meditation. EEG, blood pressure, heart rate and respiratory rate was recorded on these selected Individuals before and during meditation.
Results: Meditators as a group showed significant increase in Alfa actitivity in occipital region of frequency of 8 Hz and decrease of ß- activity in parietal region compared to controls. Diastolic blood pressure, heart rate and respiratory rate showed a significant reduction before and during meditation among study subjects compared to controls. But this was not significant in case of systolic blood pressure.
Conclusion: It was found that meditation has a positive impact on the EEG changes and other parameters studied among meditators as compared to non-meditators.
Comparable studies
Other observational and cohort studies on meditation, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Using Self-Report Assessment Methods to Explore Facets of Mindfulness Undergraduate students | 2006 | Observational cohort | |
| Effectiveness of a meditation-based stress reduction program in the treatment of anxiety disorders Patients with generalized anxiety disorder or panic disorder with or without agoraphobia | 1992 | Observational cohort | n = 22 |
| Meditation experience is associated with increased cortical thickness Participants with extensive Insight meditation experience and matched controls | 2005 | Observational cohort | n = 20 |
| Meditation experience is associated with differences in default mode network activity and connectivity Experienced meditators and matched meditation-naive controls | 2011 | Observational cohort | |
| Long-term meditators self-induce high-amplitude gamma synchrony during mental practice Long-term Buddhist practitioners and controls | 2004 | Observational cohort |