Study of immediate neurological and autonomic changes during kapalbhati pranayama in yoga practitioners
Varun Malhotra, Danish Javed, Santosh Wakode, Rajay Bharshankar, Neha Soni, Patrick K Porter
Journal of Family Medicine and Primary Care March 3, 2022 DOI: 10.4103/jfmpc.jfmpc_1662_21 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Observational study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Intervention | Kapalbhati pranayam |
| Topics | Breathwork |
| Keywords | Autonomic nervous system EEG Hrv Kapalbhati |
| Key findings | Kapalbhati leads to parasympathetic withdrawal and sympathetic activation during practice, with no significant changes in brain waves, but increased gamma wave activation afterward. |
Abstract
Background: Kapalbhati is a fast pace respiratory exercise or pranayam, which is supposed to be practiced by yogis to clean their brain. Pranayamas are well known to improve heart rate variability (HRV) ultimately leading to better autonomic functions. Other studies have observed the immediate effect of kapalbhati on various neurological (brain and spine) and autonomic functions, but their results are varied and inconclusive.
Objective: The aim of this study is to find out the changes in HRV and brain waves during and after practice of kapalbhati as compared with the baseline values of different parameters.
Methods: Various parameters were measured at baseline, during and after kapalbhati pranayam with the help of Dinamika HRV-Advanced HRV Test System, Moscow, Russia. Statistical analysis was accomplished employing repeated measures analysis of variance with Bonferroni post-hoc analysis and Holm's multiple comparisons using the Version 28.0.0.0 of the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) for Windows (190) SPSS Inc., Chicago.
Results: We found that during and after kapalbhati, changes in HRV were significant in time and frequency domain showing parasympathetic withdrawal and insignificant changes in brain waves as compared with reference point values.
Conclusion: Kapalbhati is initially energizing, cleansing, and heating. There occurs parasympathetic withdrawal and sympathetic activation during pranayama. There is an increase gamma wave activation post pranayama showing control of the default mode network.
Comparable studies
Other observational and cohort studies on breathwork, most cited first.
Citations in the library
Cited by 5
- The psychosomatic impact of Yoga in medical education: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Medical education online December 31, 2024
- Breathwork for Chronic Stress and Mental Health: Does Choosing a Specific Technique Matter? Medical Sciences August 13, 2025
- Effect of 40 continuous connected breathing on electroencephalogram and heart rate variability of healthy volunteers Indian Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology February 3, 2025
- A Unifying Framework of Meditation Techniques Mindfulness February 1, 2026
- Breathwork and holistic wellbeing: A protocol for a scoping review. PLoS One 2025
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