Effect of anapanasati meditation technique through electrophotonic imaging parameters: A pilot study.
Guru Deo, Kumar Itagi R, Srinivasan Thaiyar M, Kushwah K Kuldeep
International Journal of Yoga July 1, 2015 DOI: 10.4103/0973-6131.158474 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Single group pre-post study Pilot study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 51 |
| Population | Adults aged 18 years and above (32 males, 19 females; mean age 45.64 ± 14.43) attending Karnataka Dhyana Mahachakra-1 at Pyramid Valley International, Bengaluru, India |
| Intervention | Anapanasati meditation |
| Duration | 5 days of intensive meditation |
| Measures | Electrophotonic Imaging (EPI) parameters: integral area with and without filter, activation coefficient, integral entropy |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Keywords | Anapanasati meditation Electrophotonic imaging technique Gas discharge visualization Stress and health |
| Key points | After five days of intensive anapanasati meditation, EPI integral area with filter changed significantly on both sides, which the authors interpret as greater functional energy reserve, and activation coefficient decreased, suggesting a more relaxed state. Left-side integral entropy without filter decreased (not significant), while right-side without-filter entropy moved in reverse and with-filter entropy increased on both sides, indicating disorder. |
Abstract
Background: Mindfulness along with breathing is a well-established meditation technique. Breathing is an exquisite tool for exploring subtle awareness of mind and life itself.
Aim: This study aimed at measuring changes in the different parameters of electrophotonic imaging (EPI) in anapanasati meditators.
Materials and Methods: To carry out this study, 51 subjects comprising 32 males and 19 females of age 18 years and above (mean age 45.64 ± 14.43) were recruited voluntarily with informed consent attending Karnataka Dhyana Mahachakra-1 at Pyramid Valley International, Bengaluru, India. The design was a single group pre- post and data collected by EPI device before and after 5 days of intensive meditation.
Results: Results show significant changes in EPI parameter integral area with filter (physiological) in both right and left side, which reflects the availability of high functional energy reserve in meditators. The researchers observed similar trends without filter (psycho-physiological) indicating high reserves of energy at psycho-physiological level also. Activation coefficient, another parameter of EPI, reduced showing more relaxed state than earlier, possibly due to parasympathetic dominance. Integral entropy decreased in the case of psycho-physiological parameters left-side without filter, which indicates less disorder after meditation, but these changes were not significant. The study showed a reversed change in integral entropy in the right side without filter; however, the values on both sides with filter increased, which indicates disorder.
Conclusion: The study suggests that EPI can be used in the recording functional physiological and psychophysiological status of meditators at a subtle level.
Comparable studies
Other non-randomized and open-label trials on meditation, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction in Relation to Quality of Life, Mood, Symptoms of Stress, and Immune Parameters in Breast and Prostate Cancer Outpatients Early-stage breast and prostate cancer patients | 2003 | Pre-post intervention study | n = 59 |
| Exploring self‐compassion and empathy in the context of mindfulness‐based stress reduction (MBSR) Community sample | 2010 | Pre-post intervention study | |
| Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Lowers Psychological Distress In Medical Students Second-year medical students | 2003 | Prospective nonrandomized cohort-controlled study | n = 302 |
| Intensive meditation training, immune cell telomerase activity, and psychological mediators. Retreat participants and matched controls | 2011 | Controlled trial with wait-list control group | n = 60 |
| The Effectiveness of Mindfulness Training for Children with ADHD and Mindful Parenting for their Parents Children aged 8-12 with ADHD and their parents | 2011 | Within-group waitlist controlled trial | n = 22 |
Citations in the library
Cited by 7
- Exploring neural markers of dereification in meditation based on EEG and personalized models of electrophysiological brain states. Scientific Reports October 16, 2024
- The Effect of Anapanasati Meditation on Depression: A Randomized Control Trial Journal of Ayurvedic and Herbal Medicine August 31, 2018
- Immediate Effect of Simplified Kundalini Yoga Nine Centre Meditation on Brain Functionality Balance and Chakra Alignment Among College Boys International Journal of Zoological Investigations 2023
- 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
- Feasibility, acceptability and evaluation of meditation to augment yoga practice among persons diagnosed with schizophrenia. Acta Neuropsychiatrica May 19, 2022
and 2 more in the library
Cites 9
- Long-term meditators self-induce high-amplitude gamma synchrony during mental practice Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences November 8, 2004
- The meeting of meditative disciplines and western psychology: A mutually enriching dialogue. American Psychologist 2006
- Physiological Effects of Transcendental Meditation Science March 27, 1970
- Distinct Neural Activity Associated with Focused-Attention Meditation and Loving-Kindness Meditation PLoS One August 15, 2012
- Individual Trait Anxiety Levels Characterizing the Properties of Zen Meditation Neuropsychobiology 2004
and 4 more in the library