Electroencephalographic (EEG) Measurements of Mindfulness-based Triarchic Body-pathway Relaxation Technique: A Pilot Study

Chan, Agnes S.; Han, Yvonne Ming Yee; Cheung, Mei-chun

doi:10.1007/s10484-008-9050-5

Cited by 62 publications

(48 citation statements)

References 51 publications

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“…In contrast, a negative score denoting greater alpha power on the left and less alpha power on the right represents relatively greater activation on the right side, suggesting a more negative emotional response. Our empirical and clinical studies [90–92] have shown that frontal alpha asymmetry provides an effective and reliable means of distinguishing between positive and negative emotions. Greater left-sided activation is also associated with reduced anxiety and feelings of well-being [90–94, 98, 100].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Our empirical and clinical studies [90–92] have shown that frontal alpha asymmetry provides an effective and reliable means of distinguishing between positive and negative emotions. Greater left-sided activation is also associated with reduced anxiety and feelings of well-being [90–94, 98, 100]. Therefore, if microcurrent stimulation at the Shenmen acupoint leads to an improvement in mood, a change in brain activity measured by frontal alpha asymmetry may be observed after stimulation and the reduction in absolute alpha power should be more prominent in the left frontal region, as compared to the frontal region in the right hemisphere, resulting in a positive frontal alpha asymmetry score after stimulation.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Microcurrent Stimulation at Shenmen Acupoint Facilitates EEG Associated with Sleepiness and Positive Mood: A Randomized Controlled Electrophysiological Study

Cheung

Chan

Yip

2015

Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine

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To examine the electrophysiological effects of microcurrent stimulation at the Shenmen acupoint, 40 healthy normal subjects were randomly assigned to a placebo group (sham stimulation) and an experimental group (bilateral electrocutaneous stimulation at the Shenmen). The following two electroencephalographic indicators were used to measure brain activity. (1) Arousal level was measured with reference to log-transformed absolute alpha power and power source and analyzed using low-resolution electromagnetic tomography and (2) frontal alpha asymmetry was used as an indicator of mood. After real stimulation for 10 minutes, absolute alpha power was globally reduced in the experimental group, particularly in the anterior and centrotemporal regions of the brain. This indicates a decline in the brain activity associated with arousal. Moreover, the reduction was more prominent in the left frontal region, as compared to the right frontal region, resulting in significant increase from negative to positive frontal alpha asymmetry scores and reflecting an increase in the brain activity associated with enhanced mood. However, the placebo group exhibited no significant changes in two indicators after sham stimulation. This study provides initial electrophysiological evidence of changes in brain activity associated with reduced arousal (and thus greater sleepiness) and enhanced mood after microcurrent stimulation at the Shenmen acupoint.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Microcurrent Stimulation at Shenmen Acupoint Facilitates EEG Associated with Sleepiness and Positive Mood: A Randomized Controlled Electrophysiological Study

Cheung

Chan

Yip

2015

Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine

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“…Increases in frontal alpha/theta activity are demonstrated by experienced Zen meditators (66). Studies of meditation-induced relaxation have demonstrated an increase in frontal midline theta (4-8 Hz) activity compared with subjects relaxing while listening to music (67). Increased frontal theta and posterior alpha are apparently characteristic of unfocused meditative techniques (68).…”

Section: Meditative Statesmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Forms of Waking Consciousness

Pagel¹

2014

Dream Science

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“…13,14 Differences were calculated for electrode pairs in frontal and prefrontal regions (AF3-AF4, AF7-AF8, F1-F2, F3-F4, F5-F6, and F7-F8), then averaged across sites to increase the signal:noise ratio. 34 The AAI reflects an inverse relationship between EEG power and alpha desynchronization due to out-of-phase wave cancellation resulting from activation of independently oscillating neural units.…”

Section: Asymmetric Activationmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…10,11 Left-anterior activation, as evidenced by alpha desynchronization and a corresponding decrease in EEG alpha power relative to the opposite hemisphere, is also known to increase with mindfulness meditation, [12][13][14][15][16] and to be correlated with improved immune function, increased vitality, approach-oriented motivation, and general well-being; right-anterior activation, the reverse. 9,[17][18][19] Moreover, individuals with greater left-anterior activation recover more quickly from exposure to negative stimulation, suggesting left-anterior activation to be an effective adaptation to stress.…”

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confidence: 99%

Asymmetric Activation of the Anterior Cerebral Cortex in Recipients of IRECA: Preliminary Evidence for the Energetic Effects of an Intention-Based Biofield Treatment Modality on Human Neurophysiology

Pike

Вернон²,

Hald³

2014

The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine

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(2014) Asymmetric activation of the anterior cerebral cortex in recipients of IRECA: preliminary evidence for the energetic effects of an intention-based treatment modality on human neurophysiology. Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, 20 (10 Objectives: Neurophysiologic studies of mindfulness link the health benefits of meditation to activation of the left-anterior cerebral cortex. The similarity and functional importance of intention and attentional stance in meditative and biofield therapeutic practices suggest that modulation of recipient anterior asymmetric activation may mediate the energetic effects of intention-based biofield treatments as well. The aim of the current study was to test this hypothesis by using a treatment modality known as IRECA (Istituto di Ricerca sull'Energia Cosmica Applicata). Design: Participants' electroencephalograms (EEG) were recorded over a 5-minute recovery period (subdivided into three 100-second intervals) while participants received genuine IRECA, placebo treatment, or no treatment, after completion of a cognitively demanding task. Participants: 21 undergraduate students (3 men and 18 women; mean age, 22.1 years). All were right-handed and none had a history of neurologic or psychological impairment. Outcome measures: (1) Alpha Asymmetry Index (AAI), a standard measure of anterior asymmetric activation of the cerebral cortex, defined as the average right hemisphere minus left hemisphere log alpha power of EEG recordings for homologous pairs of electrodes in frontal and prefrontal regions; (2) self-report measures of state anxiety obtained at baseline, before treatment, and after treatment, using a short form of the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory.Results: In line with predictions, recipients of IRECA showed enhanced left-anterior activation of the cerebral cortex relative to placebo and no-treatment controls (as indicated by significantly higher and significantly positive AAI scores) during the first 100 seconds of treatment, and they reported greater overall reduction in state anxiety relative to baseline measures. Conclusions:The current study provides preliminary supporting evidence for an intention-based biofield therapeutic modality offsetting the negative effects of stress via sympathetic activation of recipients' leftanterior cerebral cortex.

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Electroencephalographic (EEG) Measurements of Mindfulness-based Triarchic Body-pathway Relaxation Technique: A Pilot Study

Abstract: These results provided evidence to support that the TBRT gives rise to positive emotional experience, accompanied by focused internalized attention.

Cited by 62 publications

References 51 publications

Microcurrent Stimulation at Shenmen Acupoint Facilitates EEG Associated with Sleepiness and Positive Mood: A Randomized Controlled Electrophysiological Study

Microcurrent Stimulation at Shenmen Acupoint Facilitates EEG Associated with Sleepiness and Positive Mood: A Randomized Controlled Electrophysiological Study

The Forms of Waking Consciousness

Asymmetric Activation of the Anterior Cerebral Cortex in Recipients of IRECA: Preliminary Evidence for the Energetic Effects of an Intention-Based Biofield Treatment Modality on Human Neurophysiology

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