Positive Health Online

Abstract

PENG and colleagues, Margret and H.A. Rey Institute for Nonlinear Dynamics in Physiology and Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Canter, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02215, USA, peng@physainet.org, have investigated the heart rate dynamics in three types of meditation.

Background

The study aimed to quantify the heart rate dynamics after sequential performance of 3 types of meditations with different breathing instructions.

Methodology

The beat-to-beat heart rate and breathing signals from 10 experienced meditators were analyzed during performance of three traditional meditation protocols: relaxation response, breath of fire, and segmented breathing.

Results

Heart rate and respiratory dynamics were similar during relaxation response and segmented breathing. High amplitude, low frequency oscillations were observed due to sinus arrhythmia, along with a significantly increased coherence between heart rate and breathing during these two meditation types. Breath of Fire was associated with a significant increase in mean heart rate and a significant decrease in coherence between heart rate and breathing.

Conclusion

These results support the concept of a 'meditation paradox', since different meditation techniques may produce active rather than quiescent heart dynamics. They also underpin the need to assess heart rate variability parameters in making assumptions about alterations in autonomic nervous system activity during meditation with slow breathing.

References

Peng CK, Henny IC, Mietus JE, Hausdorff JM, Khalsa G, Benson H, Goldberger AL. Heart rate dynamics during three forms of meditation. International Journal of Cardiology 95 (1): 19-27, May 2004.