EEG coherence and power during Yogic Flying.
F T Travis, David W. Orme-Johnson
The International journal of neuroscience September 1990 DOI: 10.3109/00207459008986616 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Observational cohort Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 20 |
| Population | Ten subjects practicing the TM-Sidhi technique of Yogic Flying and ten controls who jumped from a seated position to approximate hopping during Yogic Flying |
| Intervention | TM-Sidhi technique of Yogic Flying |
| Key findings | In the 2.12 seconds before lift-off, Yogic Flying practitioners showed higher 30-32 Hz power and higher theta, alpha, and beta broad-band coherence than controls, and within the Yogic Flying group these measures exceeded the two preceding 2.12-second periods and the whole Yogic Flying period. Controls showed no significant within-group differences. The authors suggest the experience of "pure consciousness" underlies successful TM-Sidhi performance. |
Abstract
Frontal, central and parietal power and coherence of ten subjects practicing the TM-Sidhi technique of Yogic Flying (YF) were compared to that of ten controls who jumped from a seated position to approximate hopping during YF. All movement artifacts were removed before signal analyses. The most significant group differences were seen in the 2.12-second period just before lift-off: the YF subjects '30-32 Hz power, and theta, alpha, and beta (broad band) coherence were significantly higher than those of the controls'. Within the YF group, the first period's 30-32 Hz power and broad-band coherence were significantly higher than those of the two preceding 2.12-s periods, and of the whole YF period. There were no significant within-group differences in the control group. A similar EEG pattern has been reported during the experience of pure consciousness in TM practice, suggesting that the experience of "pure consciousness" underlies successful TM-Sidhi performance.