Indian Journal of Public Health Research & Development
  • Year: 2018
  • Volume: 9
  • Issue: 2

A Systemic Review of Meditation and Psychophysiology

1Research Scholar EIED, Thapar University, India

2Assistant Professor EIED, Thapar University, India

3Associate Professor, EIED, Thapar University, India

*Corresponding Author: Mandeep Singh 2 Assistant Professor, EIED, Thapar University, India E-mail: mdsingh@thapar.edu

Online published on 16 March, 2018.

Abstract

Meditation is an old technique being practiced in India since ancient times. Meditation is practiced to have a positive impact on brain and body. Therefore it can be expected that the effect of meditation may demonstrate this effect on mind and body. Literature on meditation has generated mixed reports of its impact on various physiological and physicals signals. In this study, a systemic review has been conducted on meditation to provide an overview of its effect on human body through physiological signals like EEG, GSR, ECG etc. The important outcomes from review divulged that there is an increase in power of alpha and theta waves while performing meditation, as compared to resting state. However, such consequences were not uniformly stated. Other waveforms such as beta, delta and gamma showed unstable patterns. Summing-up, meditation can be closely related to increased alpha and theta power in healthy individuals. This existence of increased alpha and theta may signify relaxed alertness which is beneficial to mental health.

Keywords

Focused Attention, Electroencephalography (EEG), Transcendental Meditation (TM), Mindfulness Meditation (MM)