Biol 495

1. M O U N I K A P O N A K A L A
A D V I S O R : D I R K B U C H E R
The Effects of Yoga or Meditation
on CNS and ANS Interaction

2. Scientific Research on Meditation
 Practice where an individual trains the mind or
induces a mode of consciousness
 Recent field of study- aided by fMRI and EEG

3. Experiment
Evaluation of the mind and body following 5 days of
meditation
 Experiment I: Brain imaging and physiological measures-
HR, skin conductance response, respiratory amp. and rate.
 Experiment II: EEG and physiological measures- HR,
skin conductance response, respiratory amp. and rate.

4. Methods
 Both Experiments: real-time ANS activity was monitored
and analyzed
 Experiment I: Neuroimaging data were acquired on a GE
SPECT scanner. Each subject received 2 scans before and
after experiment.
 Experiment II: 19 Electrodes used. EEG data were
filtered with low-pass filters at 0.5 Hz and high-pass filters
at 45 Hz. Tested 20 minutes before and after experiment.

5. Results
 Physiological Differences
 lower SCR,
 increased respiratory amplitude,
 more high-frequency HRV
 Brain Imaging
o I: Significant increases in EEG power in the theta frequency
band (3–8 Hz) for electrodes Fz, FCz, and Cz
 II: more regional cerebral blood flow in the right ACC

6. Electrode Placement

7. Skin Conductance Response

8. Heart Rate Variance

9. Conclusion
 ANS regulation with less effort, more relaxation of
the body, and a calm state of mind during and after
 Increased HRV indicates decreased sympathetic
activity and increased parasympathetic activity
 IBMT group showed significant increases of theta
power in frontal midline electrodes

10. Work Cited
 Tang, Yi-Yuan, Ma Y. Central and autonomic
nervous system interaction is altered by short-term
meditation. PNAS 2009 106 (22) 8865-8870;
published ahead of print May 18, 2009