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Published on: May 10, 2019
Brainstem auditory-evoked potentials in two meditative mental states
Sanjay Kumar1, Hr Nagendra, Kv Naveen
1Department of Yoga Research, Indian Council of Medical Research Center for Advanced Research in Yoga and Neurophysiology, SVYASA, Bangalore, India.
International Journal of Yoga
|December 21, 2010
Summary
Meditation practices like dharana and ekagrata delay auditory information transmission, while dhyana meditation shows no such effect. This suggests dhyana may preserve neural processing efficiency in the auditory pathway.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Cognitive Science
- Psychology
Background:
- Mental repetition of "OM" influences middle latency auditory-evoked potentials.
- This suggests facilitation of neural activity at mesencephalic or diencephalic levels.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate brainstem auditory-evoked potentials (BAEP) during two distinct meditation states: dharana and dhyana.
- To compare BAEP changes across meditation states and control conditions.
Main Methods:
- Thirty experienced "OM" meditators (20-55 years) participated.
- BAEP were recorded during four sessions: dharana (focused "OM"), dhyana (effortless "OM"), ekagrata (lecture), and cancalata (non-targeted thinking).
- Each session included pre, during, and post-recording phases.
Main Results:
- Wave V peak latency significantly increased during cancalata, ekagrata, and dharana sessions.
- No significant change in wave V peak latency was observed during the dhyana meditation session.
Conclusions:
- Auditory information transmission is delayed along the auditory pathway during cancalata, ekagrata, and dharana.
- Dhyana meditation does not alter auditory information transmission, potentially indicating preserved neural processing at the inferior collicular level (wave V).
