Effect of meditation on autonomic function in healthy individuals: A longitudinal study.
Abhimanyu Ganguly, Sandip M Hulke, Rajay Bharshanakar, Rachna Parashar, Santosh Wakode
Journal of Family Medicine and Primary Care August 25, 2020 DOI: 10.4103/jfmpc.jfmpc_460_20 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Longitudinal study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 30 |
| Population | Healthy volunteers practicing meditation |
| Intervention | Meditation |
| Duration | 3 months of meditation |
| Measures | Ewing's battery, heart rate variability (HRV), Valsalva ratio, lying to standing 30:15 ratio |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Keywords | Heart rate variability Yoga |
| Key findings | After three months of meditation, significant changes appeared only in the Valsalva ratio and the lying-to-standing 30:15 ratio, while other autonomic function and HRV parameters did not change significantly. The authors conclude that three months of meditation has no significant effect on the major parameters of autonomic function. |
Abstract
Context: Meditation is very useful to relieve stress via hypothalamo-pituitory axis. Meditation is considered to be useful to relieve stress and cardio-respiratory health.
Aims: To compare the effect of meditation on autonomic function including heart rate variability (HRV) over a period of 3 months of meditation. Settings and
Design: Longitudinal study conducted at Physiology Department, AIIMS Bhopal. Methods and materials: Thirty healthy volunteers doing meditation were evaluated for autonomic function using autonomic function test battery (Ewing's battery) and HRV using Power lab (Ad instrument) and digital electrocardiograph (MARKS). Statistical analysis used: Statistical analysis was done using statistical software. Wilcoxon signed rank test was used.
Results: Significant change was seen in Valsalva ratio and lying to standing 30:15 ratio. There was no significant change in other parameters studied with 3 months of meditation.
Conclusions: Three months of meditation does not have any significant effect on major parameters of autonomic functions.
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 6
- Understanding individual differences in non-ordinary state of consciousness: Relationship between phenomenological experiences and autonomic nervous system. International journal of clinical and health psychology : IJCHP 2025
- Effect of Mind Sound Resonance Technique (MSRT) on Cognitive and Psychophysiological Functions in College Students: A Randomised Controlled Study. Annals of Neurosciences February 28, 2025
- Integrative Treatment for Substance Use Disorders: Improving Outcomes Through Evidence-based Practice of Yoga-derived Breathwork and Meditation. Journal of Addiction Medicine
- The Impact of Meditation on Instantaneous Respiration Rate and Amplitude: A Secondary Data Analysis Mindfulness February 1, 2026
- Effects of meditation on physiological and metabolic parameters in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus "MindDM": study protocol for a randomized controlled trial. Trials September 30, 2022
and 1 more in the library
Cites 12
- Impact of meditation training on the default mode network during a restful state Social Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience March 24, 2012
- Individual Trait Anxiety Levels Characterizing the Properties of Zen Meditation Neuropsychobiology 2004
- Effect of short-term pranayama and meditation on cardiovascular functions in healthy individuals Heart Views 2011
- Alterations of Regional Homogeneity and Functional Connectivity Following Short-Term Mindfulness Meditation in Healthy Volunteers Frontiers in Human Neuroscience October 18, 2019
- It matters what you practice: differential training effects on subjective experience, behavior, brain and body in the ReSource Project. Current Opinion in Psychology August 1, 2019
and 7 more in the library