Effect of Tibetan Buddhist Mindfulness Meditation (Vipassana) on Heart Rate Variability (HRV) Spectrum

Submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirement for the master's degree in (M.Sc) in Yogic Sciences
by Mohapatra Raja Santosh Kumar
Under the guidance of H R Nagendra., M.E., Ph.D
Shirley Telles., M.B.,B.S., Ph.D (Neuro)
to
Vivekananda Yoga Mahavidyapeetham (VYOMA)
Of
Swami Vivekananda yoga Anusandhana Samsthana (sVYASA), Bangalore.
(Deemed University, Recognized by U.G.C, Govt.of India through HRD)
 

Abstract : The present study was aimed to determine the effect of Tibetan Buddhist Mindfulness meditation (Vipassana) on the heart rate variability (HRV), a specific indicator of autonomic nervous system (ANS) function. The practice requires considerable awareness with expansive relaxation. 14 males of age range 22 to 41 years (mean 29.0 ±5.19) having completed 10 days basic training on Vipassana, participated in this study. The heart rate variability of all the subjects was assessed in two test sessions, which included a period of meditation and control (random) thinking. There was no significant reduction in heart rate during meditation session compared to the base line. During non-meditation random thinking the heart rate decreased in second, third but maximally in the fifth (4.3beats/min) compared to the baseline (paired T-Test). There was no change in the low frequency to high frequency ratio of the heart rate variabilityspectrum. The heart rate change in non-meditation suggests that the decrease in heart rate which occurred during the random thinking sessions appears to have been prevented by the practice of Tibetan Buddhist Mindfulness (Vipassana) meditation.

Summary & Conclusion : The study was aimed to determine the effect of Tibetan Buddhist Mindfulness meditation (Vipassana) on the heart rate variability, a specific indicator of autonomic nervous system.

14 healthy trained male 'Vipassana' meditators whose age ranged from 22 to 41 years (mean ±SD 29.0 ± 5.19) were assessed for heart rate variability during meditation and random thinking sessions. The design was self as control. As the data was found to be normally distributed (Shapiro - Wilk test), Paired t- test was done for analysis. The result showed no change in heart rate whereas there was a decrease in heart rate during second, third and fifth sessions of non-meditation. There was no change in the low frequency to high frequency ratio of the heart rate variability spectrum.
It can be suggested from the study that Tibetan Buddhist Mindfulness meditation (Vipassana) has no effect on heart rate variability, a specific indicator of autonomic nervous system in trained 'Vipassana' meditators and ten days intensive practiced in the tradition is necessary to get the desired results.