Vipassana Meditation Practices Enhance the Parasympathetic Activity during Sleep: a Case-Control Study of Heart Rate Variability across Sleep Cycles
B. Kutty
January 19, 2017 DOI: 10.15406/ijcam.2017.05.00145 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Observational comparative study |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 49 |
| Population | 26 senior Vipassana meditation practitioners and 23 non-meditating control subjects |
| Intervention | Vipassana meditation |
| Duration | Whole-night polysomnography across three consecutive sleep cycles |
| Measures | High frequency power (HF), low frequency power (LF), normalized units (HFnu and LFnu), LF/HF ratio, polysomnography sleep variables |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Key findings | Vipassana meditators showed significantly higher normalized high-frequency power (HFnu) across all sleep states and sleep cycles, and a reduced LF/HF ratio during REM sleep. They also had enhanced slow-wave and REM sleep with fewer intermittent awakenings. The authors argue this reflects persistent parasympathetic activity that may buffer sympathetic surges and support sympatho-vagal balance for sleep quality and cardiac protection. |
Abstract
1.1.Background:Sleep state related cardiac autonomic modulations are important for proper cardiovascular functions and to maintain homeostasis during sleep. The present study evaluates the efficacy of Vipassana meditation on cardio autonomic dynamicity across sleep cycles during sleep. 1.2.Methods:26 Senior Vipassana meditation practitioners and 23 non-meditating control subjects participated in the study. Whole night polysomnography with lead II ECG were carried out using 32 channel, 2110 digital EEG system (Nihon Kohden, Japan) and with 16 channels Power Lab data acquisition system (AD Instruments, Australia . Differences in sleep variables across sleep cycles among the meditation practitioners and control groups (between groups ) were analyzed by two way ANOVA with turkey posthoc test .The heart rate variability (HRV) was assessed during N2 and N3 and REM sleep state across three consecutive sleep cycles. The HRV variables-High frequency power (HF) and low frequency power (LF) density, their normalized units (HFnu and LFnu) and ratio (LF/HF ratio) were compared across sleep cycles using Analysis of variance with repeated measures for within group and ‘t’ test for between groups. 1.3.Results:Vipassana meditators showed significantly high HFnu irrespective of sleep states across sleep cycles. During REM sleep, as HF nu was concomitantly enhanced along with increased LFnu, the LF/HF ratio was reduced in meditators .In addition, meditators showed distinct sleep architecture with enhanced slow wave sleep and REM sleep states along with significantly reduced intermittent awakenings indicative of proper sleep organisation. 1.4.Conclusion: Vipassana meditation practice helps to establish a proper cardio autonomic dynamicity during sleep with a persistent increase in parasympathetic activity across sleep states. Such a state of heightened parasympathetic activity especially during REM sleep helps to buffer the sympathetic surges and helps to maintain a proper sympatho-vagal balance essential for quality sleep and cardio protection.
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 3
- Enhanced dehydroepiandrosterone levels are positively correlated with N3 sleep stage in long-term mindfulness meditation practitioners. Sleep Science 2022
- State-trait influences of Vipassana meditation practice on P3 EEG dynamics. Progress in Brain Research 2019
- Dissociating meditation proficiency and experience dependent EEG changes during traditional Vipassana meditation practice. Biological Psychology May 1, 2018
Cites 10
- Physical Activity, Mindfulness Meditation, or Heart Rate Variability Biofeedback for Stress Reduction: A Randomized Controlled Trial Applied Psychophysiology and Biofeedback June 25, 2015
- Individual Trait Anxiety Levels Characterizing the Properties of Zen Meditation Neuropsychobiology 2004
- Mindfulness meditation, well-being, and heart rate variability: a preliminary investigation into the impact of intensive Vipassana meditation. International Journal of Psychophysiology September 1, 2013
- Changes in autonomic variables following two meditative states described in yoga texts. The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine September 4, 2012
- Increased heart rate variability during nondirective meditation. European journal of preventive cardiology August 2012
and 5 more in the library