Electrocortical Activity and Related Phenomena Associated with Meditation Practice: A Literature Review

Delmonte, M. M.

doi:10.3109/00207458409089810

Cited by 46 publications

(39 citation statements)

References 43 publications

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“…It was also reported that certain individuals, namely the psychologically 'healthy' and those with a capacity for relaxed absorbed attention, appeared to be more favorably disposed to meditation [26]. However, it is not clear whether prospective meditators as a group already possessed these characteristics, or whether the state effects of meditation practice eventually generalize to become traits.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Individual Trait Anxiety Levels Characterizing the Properties of Zen Meditation

Murata¹,

Takahashi²,

Hamada³

et al. 2004

Neuropsychobiology

121

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Meditation is a specific consciousness state in which deep relaxation and increased internalized attention coexist. There have been various neurophysiological studies on meditation. However, the personal predispositions/traits that characterize the properties of meditation have not been adequately studied. We analyzed changes in neurophysiological parameters [EEG coherence and autonomic nervous activity using heart rate variability (HRV) as an index] during Zen meditation, and evaluated the results in association with trait anxiety (assessed by Spielberger’s State-Trait Anxiety Inventory) in 22 healthy adults who had not previously practiced any form of meditation. During meditation, in terms of mean values in all subjects, an increase in slow alpha interhemispheric EEG coherence in the frontal region, an increase in high-frequency (HF) power (as a parasympathetic index of HRV), and a decrease in the ratio of low-frequency to HF power (as a sympathetic index of HRV) were observed. Further evaluation of these changes in individuals showed a negative correlation between the percent change (with the control condition as the baseline) in slow alpha interhemispheric coherence reflecting internalized attention and the percent change in HF reflecting relaxation. The trait anxiety score was negatively correlated with the percent change in slow alpha interhemispheric coherence in the frontal region and was positively correlated with the percent change in HF. These results suggest that lower trait anxiety more readily induces meditation with a predominance of internalized attention, while higher trait anxiety more readily induces meditation with a predominance of relaxation.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Individual Trait Anxiety Levels Characterizing the Properties of Zen Meditation

Murata¹,

Takahashi²,

Hamada³

et al. 2004

Neuropsychobiology

121

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“…For example 23) , a previous study compared three styles of yoga asana practice: the yoga posture, breathing exercises, and relaxation or resting posture. Some studies have reported that the heart rate decreases during meditation and while performing other meditation techniques 24,25) . Nonetheless, long time practitioners of meditation have been shown to have a marked decrease in heart rate 25,26) .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Assessment of Heart Rates and Blood Pressure in Different <i>Salat</i> Positions

et al. 2013

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Abstract. [Purpose] This study reports the effects of the Muslim prayer, known as Salat, on heart rate (HR) and blood pressure (BP) while performing and miming the actions of Salat: standing, bowing, prostrating and sitting.[Subjects] Thirty Muslim subjects were asked to perform the actual and mime Salat.[Methods] HR and BP were measured using a Schiller AT-102 Electrocardiograph and an Omron SEM-1 Automatic Blood Pressure Monitor.[Results] The findings revealed that there was a significant difference in the HR of the subjects between performing and miming Salat. The standing and prostration positions of Salat produced the highest and the lowest HR, respectively. A lower HR may be of potential benefit to an individual's health. The systolic and the diastolic BP decreased significantly after performance and mime of Salat, and a greater reduction in BP was observed during performance of Salat. [Conclusion] This is the first study of HR and BP in relation to Salat positions. The findings will encourage further studies to explore the benefits of Salat maneuvers for patients with cardiovascular diseases.

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“…The research on the CNS effects of the RR that has been done suggests that the RR results in reductions in CNS arousal as measured by increases in alpha or theta EEG activity (Delmonte, 1984;West, 1980). However, this research has been hampered by a number of methodological problems, including lack of empirically sound experimental designs (self-selection bias, nonrandom assignment, no pretesting prior to training), reliance on visual analyses of a few channels of EEG activity, and failure to assess CNS effects in novice subjects to determine if the CNS effects of the RR are immediate.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Topographic EEG mapping of the relaxation response

Jacobs

Benson

Friedman

1996

Biofeedback and Self-Regulation

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The purpose of this study was to assess the central nervous system effects of the relaxation response (RR) in novice subjects using a controlled, within- subjects design and topographic EEG mapping as the dependent measure. Twenty subjects listened to a RR and control audiotape presented in a counterbalanced order while EEG was recorded from 14 scalp locations. The RR condition produced greater (p < .0164) reductions in frontal EEG beta activity relative to the control condition. No significant differences were observed for any other frequency band or scalp region. These findings suggest that elicitation of the RR produces significant reductions in cortical activation in anterior brain regions in novice subjects.

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Electrocortical Activity and Related Phenomena Associated with Meditation Practice: A Literature Review

Cited by 46 publications

References 43 publications

Individual Trait Anxiety Levels Characterizing the Properties of Zen Meditation

Individual Trait Anxiety Levels Characterizing the Properties of Zen Meditation

Assessment of Heart Rates and Blood Pressure in Different <i>Salat</i> Positions

Topographic EEG mapping of the relaxation response

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