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December 23, 2007
Neurophysiological Functions Following Meditation Practices
USHA PANJWANI
Defence Insitute of Physiology and Allied Sciences, New Delhi,
India
usha_dipas@rediffmail.com
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Abstract
Yoga is an ancient science and cultural and a way of life. Meditation forms an integral part of it. A quiet environment, passive attitude, reduced muscle tone; a mental device (such as mantra or any point of focus) and an appropriate posture are a prerequisite of meditation practice. Yoga is reported to improve physiological, cognitive and neuroendocrine functions in normal healthy persons. It is also reported to help in the management of psycho-somatic diseases of patients such as hypertension, epilepsy and diabetes mellitus.
Scientific studies have been carried out at DIPAS to evaluate the effect of yoga in soldiers of Indian army as well as in patients of epilepsy. Studies on patients of epilepsy revealed a marked improvement in seizure frequency, increase in % alpha, reduction in % delta EEG, increase in Na-Pa amplitude of auditory evoked potential mid latency response (MLR), increase in galvanic skin resistance reduction in urinary vinyl mandelic acid and plasma lactate levels following 6 months of practice.
Currently, studies are being carried out on the effect of Om meditation in the amelioration of cognitive functions following sleep deprivation. Preliminary results show a positive effect of meditation on PGI Battery, Raven’s progressive matrices, maze tracing, Stroop color-word interference tests. There are changes in Contingent Negative Variation (CNV) reaction time, P300 latencies and MLR latencies. Early and late CNV (M1 and M2 respectively) latencies and reaction time are reduced following meditation practice. The P300 latencies are reduced. MLR latencies reduced and amplitude increased. These results point towards improvement in sustained attention and vigilance, improved analytical and intellectual ability, improved planning and discussion making. Om meditation ameliorates the effect of sleep deprivation on the impaired cognitive functions.
It may be concluded that meditation practice improves cognitive functions after sleep deprivation and in patients of epilepsy.
