Inward-attention meditation increases parasympathetic activity: a study based on heart rate variability.
Shr-Da Wu, Pei-Chen Lo
Biomedical Research October 1, 2008 DOI: 10.2220/biomedres.29.245 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Observational cohort Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 20 |
| Population | 10 experimental subjects with Zen-meditation experience and 10 control subjects without any meditation experience |
| Intervention | Inward-attention meditation |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Key findings | Inward-attention meditation decreased LF/HF ratio and LF norm and increased HF norm, suggesting a shift toward parasympathetic activity, and produced regular high-frequency heart rate oscillations. |
Abstract
Phenomenon of the heart rate variability (HRV) during various meditation techniques has been reported. However, most of these techniques emphasized the skill of slow breathing (<0.15 Hz). This paper reports our study on HRV during meditation which emphasizes inward attention. Inward attention has been an important approach for the Zen-meditation practitioners to enter into transcendental consciousness. Two groups of subjects were investigated, 10 experimental subjects with Zen-meditation experience and 10 control subjects without any meditation experience. We analyzed HRV both in time and frequency domains. The results revealed both common and different effects on HRV between inward-attention meditation and normal rest. The major difference of effects between two groups were the decrease of LF/HF ratio and LF norm as well as the increase of HF norm, which suggested the benefit of a sympathovagal balance toward parasympathetic activity. Moreover, we observed regular oscillating rhythms of the heart rate when the LF/HF ratio was small under meditation. According to previous studies, regular oscillations of heart rate signal usually appeared in the low-frequency band of HRV under slow breathing. Our findings showed that such regular oscillations could also appear in the high-frequency band of HRV but with smaller amplitude.
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 |
Citations in the library
Cited by 39
- Interoception, contemplative practice, and health Frontiers in Psychology June 9, 2015
- Breath of Life: The Respiratory Vagal Stimulation Model of Contemplative Activity Frontiers in Human Neuroscience October 9, 2018
- Future directions in meditation research: Recommendations for expanding the field of contemplative science PLoS One November 7, 2018
- The Influence of Buddhist Meditation Traditions on the Autonomic System and Attention BioMed Research International 2015
- Mechanisms of Yogic Practices in Health, Aging, and Disease Mount Sinai Journal of Medicine A Journal of Translational and Personalized Medicine September 1, 2010
and 34 more in the library
Cites 10
- Alterations in Brain and Immune Function Produced by Mindfulness Meditation Psychosomatic Medicine July 1, 2003
- Meditation experience is associated with increased cortical thickness Neuroreport November 7, 2005
- Short-term meditation training improves attention and self-regulation Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences October 11, 2007
- Variation Analysis of Sphygmogram to Assess Cardiovascular System under Meditation. Evidence-based Complementary and Alternative Medicine March 1, 2009
- Cardiorespiratory synchronization during Zen meditation. European journal of applied physiology September 1, 2005
and 5 more in the library