Pranayama Yoga: Measuring Brainwaves via EEG
Rebecca Bhik-Ghanie
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Observational cohort |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 15 |
| Population | Experienced meditators and novice meditators |
| Intervention | Open Heart Meditation |
| Duration | Weekly sessions over an unspecified period, with EEG measured during first and final sessions |
| Measures | EEG baseline mean frequency in beta range |
| Topics | Breathwork |
| Key findings | Experienced meditators showed a nonsignificant trend toward increased baseline mean EEG frequency in the beta range compared to novices and controls, suggesting greater neurological engagement during meditation. |
Abstract
Differences in baseline electroencephalogram (EEG) activity have been found among long-time practitioners of meditation (3+ years) in comparison to novice meditators (<1 year). In the current study, 10 participants (5 experienced meditators; 5 novices) engaged in a series of weekly, 20-minute Open Heart Meditation (OHM) practices; 5 control participants (all novices) engaged in a 20-minute reading/study session. EEG activity was measured in all participants during the first and final sessions. While the differences did not reach statistical significance, there were differences in the expected direction, suggesting an increase in baseline mean frequency of EEG measurements within the beta range for experienced meditators in comparison to novices and controls, suggesting an increase in neurological engagement during meditation. These findings suggest that there are potential neurological gains of certain meditative practices, which should lead to further investigation into the merits of meditative practice as a form of therapy.
Comparable studies
Other observational and cohort studies on breathwork, most cited first.
Citations in the library
Cites 6
- Meditation experience is associated with increased cortical thickness Neuroreport November 7, 2005
- Long-term meditators self-induce high-amplitude gamma synchrony during mental practice Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences November 8, 2004
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- Fluid intelligence and brain functional organization in aging yoga and meditation practitioners DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) April 1, 2014
- Greater widespread functional connectivity of the caudate in older adults who practice kripalu yoga and vipassana meditation than in controls. Frontiers in Human Neuroscience 2015
and 1 more in the library