International Journal of Yoga

ORIGINAL ARTICLE
Year
: 2020  |  Volume : 13  |  Issue : 2  |  Page : 130--136

High-frequency cerebral activation and interhemispheric synchronization following sudarshan kriya yoga as global brain rhythms: The state effects


Lakshmi Bhaskar1, Vaibhav Tripathi2, Chhaya Kharya1, Vijayalakshmi Kotabagi3, Manvir Bhatia4, Vinod Kochupillai1 
1 Sri Sri Institute of Advanced Research, Ved Vignan Maha Vidya Peeth, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India
2 Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
3 Department of Medical Electronics, BMS College of Engineering, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India
4 Department of Sleep Medicine, Fortis Escort Heart Institute, Delhi, India

Correspondence Address:
Chhaya Kharya
Sri Sri Institute of Advanced Research, Ved Vignan Maha Vidya Peeth, 21st Km, Kanakpura Road, Udayapura, Bengaluru - 560 082, Karnataka
India

Context: Respiration is known to modulate neuronal oscillations in the brain and is measured by electroencephalogram (EEG). Sudarshan Kriya Yoga (SKY) is a popular breathing process and is established for its significant effects on the various aspects of physiology and psychology. Aims: This study aimed to observe neuronal oscillations in multifrequency bands and interhemispheric synchronization following SKY. Settings and Design: This study employed before- and after-study design. Subjects and Methods: Forty healthy volunteers (average age 25.45 ± 5.75, 23 males and 17 females) participated in the study. Nineteen-channel EEG was recorded and analyzed for 5 min each: before and after SKY. Spectral power for delta, theta, alpha, beta, and gamma frequency band was calculated using Multi-taper Fast Fourier Transform (Chronux toolbox). The Asymmetry Index was calculated by subtracting the natural log of powers of left (L) hemisphere from the right® to show interhemispheric synchronization. Statistical Analysis: Paired t-test was used for statistical analysis. Results: Spectral power increased significantly in all frequency bands bilaterally in frontal, central, parietal, temporal, and occipital regions of the brain after long SKY. Electrical activity shifted from lower to higher frequency range with a significant rise in the gamma and beta powers following SKY. Asymmetry Index values tended toward 0 following SKY. Conclusions: A single session of SKY generates global brain rhythm dominantly with high-frequency cerebral activation and initiates appropriate interhemispheric synchronization in brain rhythms as state effects. This suggests that SKY leads to better attention, memory, and emotional and autonomic control along with enhanced cognitive functions, which finally improves physical and mental well-being.


How to cite this article:
Bhaskar L, Tripathi V, Kharya C, Kotabagi V, Bhatia M, Kochupillai V. High-frequency cerebral activation and interhemispheric synchronization following sudarshan kriya yoga as global brain rhythms: The state effects.Int J Yoga 2020;13:130-136


How to cite this URL:
Bhaskar L, Tripathi V, Kharya C, Kotabagi V, Bhatia M, Kochupillai V. High-frequency cerebral activation and interhemispheric synchronization following sudarshan kriya yoga as global brain rhythms: The state effects. Int J Yoga [serial online] 2020 [cited 2023 Mar 21 ];13:130-136
Available from: https://www.ijoy.org.in/article.asp?issn=0973-6131;year=2020;volume=13;issue=2;spage=130;epage=136;aulast=Bhaskar;type=0