RAJIV GANDI UNIVERSITY OF HEALTH SCIENCES

KARNATAKA, BANGALORE

ANNEXURE-II

PROFORMA FOR REGISTRATION OF SUBJECT FOR DISSERTATION

1. / NAME OF THE CANDIDATE AND ADDRESS
(IN BLOCK LETTERS) / Dr SHILPA.M
POST-GRADUATE IN PHYSIOLOGY,
DEPARTMENT OF PHYSIOLOGY,
MYSORE MEDICAL COLLEGE AND RESEARCH INSTITUTE,
MYSORE-570001
2. / NAME OF THE INSTITUTION / MYSORE MEDICAL COLLEGE AND RESEARCH INSTITUTE, MYSORE
3. / COURSE OF STUDY AND SUBJECT / M.D (PHYSIOLOGY)
4. / DATE OF ADMISSION TO COURSE / 30.06.2010
5. / TITLE OF TOPIC / EFFECTS OF MEDITATION AND MEDITATION WITH AUTOSUGGESTION ON VARIOUS PHYSIOLOGICAL PARAMETERS – A COMPARATIVE STUDY

6. BRIEF RESUME OF THE INTENDED WORK

6.1 NEED FOR THE STUDY

Medical science tries to achieve optimum physical and mental health through preventive, curative and promotive means. In the current era, to be on par with the competitive world, there has been an increase in the stress levels among the masses and to curtail this stress, there has been a renewed interest in practice of meditation.

Meditation is a technique for achieving the highest level of human development and self-actualization, so called higher states of consciousness or enlightenment.
More than 500 scientific studies indicate that meditation has profound effects on the psychology and physiology. The results confirm that meditation develops the nervous system in a profound way that is in accord with classical descriptions of enlightenment.

Autosuggestion is a psychological technique of Affirmations. Affirmations are a way of reprogramming the subconscious to think differently and to automatically react in a more positive way when trigger situations occur in life. Autogenic training- another relaxation technique has been proved in various clinical trials and has been recommended in therapy. But this technique requires the expertise of a qualified professional. Autosuggestion, proved scientifically, though with limited clinical trials is also a powerful relaxation technique which involves the individual himself through programming of his/her mind without the help of an expert. This reprogramming helps an individual to imbibe positive thoughts in life.

As studies on autosuggestion have been very sparse as exemplified by the limited literature that is available, this study helps to highlight the role and importance of autosuggestion combined with meditation and compare the physiological responses with meditation alone.

6.2REVIEW OF LITERATURE

  1. An H, Kulkarni et al(2010)conducted a study to measure the heart rate variability in women following a mediatation technique. 28 healthy female volunteers in the age group of 22 to 28 participated in the study. The subjects participated in two different sessions, one of cyclic meditation lasting for 23 min and another of supine rest, conducted on a different day, lasting for 23 min. the RR intervals were recorded for a period of five minutes, before and after the practice of cyclic meditation and the same was followed for supine rest. The results of RR interval were analysed by using A HRV analysis software. The authors concluded that following meditation, there is a parasympathetic dominance in women as evidenced by increase in high frequency component of the RR interval series.1
  2. Vyas R, Dikshit N.(2002) conducted a study involving the respiratory functions, cardiovascular parameters and lipid profile of those practicing Raja Yoga meditation (short and long term meditators) were compared with those of nonmeditators. The authors put forth the following conclusions. Vital capacity, tidal volume and breath holding were significantly higher in short and long term meditators than nonmeditators. Long term mediators had significantly higher vital capacity and expiratory pressure than short term meditators. Diastolic blood pressure was significantly lower in both short and long term meditators as compared to nonmeditators. Heart rate was significantly lower in long term meditators than in short term meditators and nonmeditators. Lipid profile showed a significant lowering of serum cholesterol in short and long term meditators as compared to nonmeditators. Lipid profile of short and long term meditators was better than the profile of nonmeditators inspite of similar physical activity. The authors concluded that Raja Yoga meditation provides significant improvements in respiratory functions, cardiovascular parameters and lipid profile.2
  3. Cahn, BR. Polich,J.(2006) conductedthe neuroelectric and imaging studies of meditation were reviewed in a study. The authors concluded that Electroencephalographic measures indicate an overall slowing subsequent to meditation, with theta and alpha activation related to proficiency of practice. Neuroimaging studies indicated an increased regional cerebral blood flow measures during meditation. Taken together, the authors were of the view that meditation appears to reflect changes in anterior cingulate cortex and dorsolateral prefrontal areas of the brain.3
  4. .Tang Y et al (2009) studied the effects of short term meditation on central and autonomic nervous system were evaluated in 86 chinese undergraduates. The physiological measures like heart rate, skin conductance response, that respiratory amplitude and respiratory rate, and EEG were evaluated following a integrative body mind training. The results were compared with the control group. There was a significant difference in the results between the group which had integrative body mind training when compared to the control group.4
  5. Barnes VAet al (2004) conducted a study to evaluate the impactof a meditation program on resting and ambulatory blood pressureand heart rate in youths. 73 middle school students participated in the study. The meditation groups engaged in 10-minute sessions at schooland at home after school each day for 3 months. Resting (seated)systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, and heartrate measurements were obtained pretest and posttest on threeconsecutive school days Significant differences from pretest to posttest were found between the meditation andcontrol groups. The authors concluded that these findings demonstrated the potential beneficialimpact of meditation on blood pressure and heart rate in thenatural environment in healthy normotensive youth.5

6.3 OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY

1. To study the changes in Electrocardiogram(ECG), Electroencephalogram(EEG), automonic and respiratory parameters following meditation.

2. To study the effects of autosuggestion- self hypnosis along with meditation on the above parameters.

3. To compare the effects of meditation and meditation with autosuggestion on various physiological parameters and to highlight the differences, if any.

7. MATERIALS AND METHODS

7.1 Source of data

Healthy young volunteersstudying in Mysore medical college and goverment aurvedic college in the age group of 15 to 25yrs including both males and females.

A.Number of subjects- 60

meditators =30

meditators with auto suggestion=30

B.Inclusion criteria

healthy young volunteers in the age group 15 to 25yrs

C. Exclusion criteria

  • h/o smoking, or tobacco consumption in any form.
  • h/o yoga/meditation practice previously,
  • h/o active sports training,
  • h/o cardiovascular disorders, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, bronchial asthma or any medical illness
  • h/o major surgeries

7.2 Methods of Collection of Data

60 young healthy volunteers studying in mysore medical college and government aurvedic college both male and female aged 15 to 25yrs are selected to test the response of various physiological parameters to meditation and meditation with autosuggestion

Following anthropometric parameters are recorded

  1. Age in yrs
  2. height in cms
  3. weight in kg

Before meditation following parameters are recorded

  1. heart rate/min using ECG machine
  2. blood pressure/mm of Hg using sphygmomanometer,
  3. lung function tests using cosmed spirometer,
  4. EEG studies- frontal and central alpha power,

- frontal and central alpha coherence -

  1. autonomic functions

-heart rate variation with deep breathing

-heart rate variation with hand grip,

-postural changes in systolic and diastolic BP.

In 30 volunteers OM meditation training is given for 3 months and another 30 subjects will be trained with OM meditation with auto suggestion practice for 3 months.

The above physiological parameters are recorded again and the results compared with students paired‘t’ test.

7.3 Does the study require any investigation/intervention to be conducted on patients/ humans/animals

No. it is a non-invasive technique using ECG, EEG machine, sphygmomanometer, and spirometer.

7.4 Has ethical clearance been obtained from your institution in case of 7.3 ?

YES, a copy has been enclosed

7.5 Duration of study: 18 months

  1. LIST OF REFERNCES
  2. An H, Kulkarni R, Nagarathna R and Nagendra HR. Measures of heart rate variability in women following a meditation technique. International journal of yoga 2010;3:6-9.
  3. Vyas R, Dikshit N. Effect of meditation on respiratory system, cardiovascular system and lipid profile. Indian J physiol pharmacol 2002;46(4):487-491.
  4. Cahn, BR. Polich,J. Meditation states and traits: EEG, ERP, and neuroimaging studies. Psychological Bulletin 2006; 132(2):180-211.
  5. Tang Y, Ma Y, Fan Y, Feng H, Wang J, Feng S, et al. Central and autonomic nervous system interaction is altered by short-term meditation.Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 2009;106(22):8865-8870.
  6. Barnes VA, Davis HC, Murzynowski JB and Treiber FA. Impact of Meditation on Resting and Ambulatory Blood Pressure and Heart Rate in Youth.Psychosomatic medicine 2004;66:909-914.

9.SIGNATURE OF THE CANDIATE:

Dr SHILPA. M

10. REMARKS OF THE GUIDE:

11 NAME AND DESIGNATION OF

11.1 Guide : Dr TEJASWINI

MD

ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR DEPARTMENT OF PHYSIOLOGY,

MYSORE MEDICAL COLLEGE

AND RESEARCH INSTITUTE

MYSORE

11.2 SIGNATURE:

11.3 CO-GUIDE(IF ANY):

11.4 SIGNATURE:

11.5 HEAD OF THE DEPARTMENT: Dr T N MANJUNATH

MD,

PROFESSOR AND HEAD

DEPARTMENT OF PHYSIOLOGY

MYSORE MEDICAL COLLEGE

AND RESEARCH INSTITUTE

MYSORE

11.6 SIGNATURE:

12 12.1: REMARKS OF DEAN

AND DIRECTOR

12.2: SIGNATURE:

ETHICAL COMMITTEE CLEARENCE

TITLE OF THE DISSERTATION: “EFFECTS OF MEDITATION AND MEDITATION WITH AUTOSUGGESTION ON VARIOUS PHYSIOLOGICAL PARAMETERS – A COMPARATIVE STUDY”

NAME OF THE CANDIDATE: DR. SHILPA. M

SUBJECT : M.D. - PHYSIOLOGY

  1. NAME OF THE GUIDE: DR. TEJASWINI, M.D.

ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR, DEPTOF PHYSIOLOGY

MYSORE MEDICAL COLLEGE & RESEARCH INSTITUTE,MYSORE

  1. APPROVED/ NOT APPROVED: APPROVED

(if not approved, suggestions)

Medical SuperintendentMedical Superintendent

K.R.Hospital CheluvambaHospital

Mysore Mysore

Professor & HeadProfessor & Head

Dept of MedicineDept of Surgery

MMC&RI MMC&RI

Mysore Mysore

SuperintendentLaw Expert

PKTBHospital

Mysore

Director & Dean

Mysore Medical College & Research Institute

Mysore

1