Evaluation of meditation and relaxation on physiological response during the performance of fine motor and gross motor tasks.
C J Wood
Perceptual and Motor Skills February 1, 1986 DOI: 10.2466/pms.1986.62.1.91 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Randomized-blocks, pretest-posttest control group study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 32 |
| Population | 16 meditators and 16 nonmeditators |
| Interventions | Meditation Relaxation |
| Measures | pursuit-rotor tracking performance, Luft cycle ergometer protocol, heart rate, systolic blood pressure, rate-pressure-product, EMG activity of the frontalis muscle |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Keywords | Humans Electromyography Motor skills Blood pressure Heart rate Adolescent Adult Female Physical exertion Relaxation therapy |
| Key points | Meditation practice and pre-task relaxation produced no significant difference in fine motor (pursuit-rotor tracking) or gross motor (cycle ergometer) task performance, nor in the pattern of heart rate, systolic blood pressure, rate-pressure-product, and frontalis EMG responses to either task. |
Abstract
This study investigated the effects of meditation/relaxation on physiological responses during the performance of a fine motor and a gross motor task. A pretest-posttest control group, randomized-blocks design was used to study a group of 16 meditators and a group of 16 nonmeditators, subgroups of each who relaxed prior to performing on a pursuit-rotor tracking device as a fine motor task and to performing the Luft cycle ergometer protocol to a heart rate of 70% of age-adjusted maximum heart rate as a gross motor task. During each of these tasks heart rate, systolic blood pressure, rate-pressure-product, and EMG activity of the frontalis muscle were monitored. No significant difference in the performance of either the fine motor or the gross motor task was noted for persons practicing meditation and persons who were nonmeditators but were given the opportunity to relax prior to a motor task. Likewise, no significant difference was noted in the pattern of response to the imposed fine motor or gross motor task by meditators or relaxed nonmeditators.
Comparable studies
Other randomized controlled trials on meditation, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alterations in Brain and Immune Function Produced by Mindfulness Meditation Healthy employees in a work environment | 2003 | Randomized controlled trial | n = 41 |
| Prevention of relapse/recurrence in major depression by mindfulness-based cognitive therapy. Recovered recurrently depressed patients | 2000 | Randomized controlled trial | n = 145 |
| Open hearts build lives: Positive emotions, induced through loving-kindness meditation, build consequential personal resources. Working adults | 2008 | Randomized controlled trial | n = 139 |
| Short-term meditation training improves attention and self-regulation Undergraduate Chinese students | 2007 | Randomized controlled trial | n = 40 |
| Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy for Depression: Replication and Exploration of Differential Relapse Prevention Effects. Recovered recurrently depressed patients | 2004 | Randomized controlled trial | n = 73 |
Citations in the library
Cited by 2
Cites 6
- Physiological Effects of Transcendental Meditation Science March 27, 1970
- Meditation as an intervention in stress reactivity. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology 1976
- Evaluation of Transcendental Meditation as a Method of Reducing Stress Science June 18, 1976
- Behavioral alteration of plasma phenylalanine concentration. Physiology & Behavior November 1977
- Effects of Transcendental Meditation on Fine Motor Skill Perceptual and Motor Skills October 1, 1976
and 1 more in the library