Effect of Sahaja Yoga Meditation on Auditory Evoked Potentials (AEP) and Visual Contrast Sensitivity (VCS) in Epileptics

Posted on by Andrés Alarcón Leave a comment

U Panjwani 1 , W Selvamurthy, S H Singh, H L Gupta, S Mukhopadhyay, L Thakur
Affiliations expand
PMID: 10832506 DOI: 10.1023/a:1009523904786

Abstract

The effect of Sahaja Yoga meditation on 32 patients with primary idiopathic epilepsy on regular and maintained antiepileptic medication was studied. The patients were randomly divided into 3 groups: group I practiced Sahaja Yoga meditation twice daily for 6 months under proper guidance; group II practiced postural exercises mimicking the meditation for the same duration; and group III was the control group. Visual Contrast Sensitivity (VCS), Auditory Evoked Potentials (AEP), Brainstem Auditory Evoked Potentials (BAEP), and Mid Latency Responses (MLR) were recorded initially (0 month) and at 3 and 6 months for each group. There was a significant improvement in VCS following meditation practice in group I participants. Na, the first prominent negative peak of MLR and Pa, the positive peak following Na did not register changes in latency. The Na-Pa amplitude of MLR also showed a significant increase. There were no significant changes in the absolute and interpeak latencies of BAEP. The reduced level of stress following meditation practice may make patients more responsive to specific stimuli. Sahaja Yoga meditation appears to bring about changes in some of the electrophysiological responses studied in epileptic patients.

Source: National Library of Medicine, National Center for Biotechnology Information, https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/10832506/

Effect of Sahaja Yoga Practice on Stress Management in Patients of Epilepsy

Posted on by Andrés Alarcón Leave a comment

U Panjwani 1 , H L Gupta, S H Singh, W Selvamurthy, U C Rai
Affiliations expand
PMID: 7649596


Abstract

An attempt was made to evaluate the effect of Sahaja yoga meditation in stress management in patients of epilepsy. The study was carried out on 32 patients of epilepsy who were rendomly divided into 3 groups: group I subjects practised Sahaja yoga meditation for 6 months, group II subjects practised postural exercises mimicking Sahaja yoga and group III served as the epileptic control group. Galvanic skin resistance (GSR), blood lactate and urinary vinyl mandelic acid (U-VMA) were recorded at 0, 3 and 6 months. There were significant changes at 3 & 6 months as compared to 0 month values in GSR, blood lactate and U-VMA levels in group I subjects, but not in group II and group III subjects. The results indicate that reduction in stress following Sahaja yoga practice may be responsible for clinical improvement which had been earlier reported in patients who practiced Sahaja Yoga.

Source: National Library of Medicine, National Center for Biotechnology Information, https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/7649596/

Effect of Sahaja Yoga Practice on Seizure Control & EEG Changes in Patients of Epilepsy

Posted on by Andrés Alarcón Leave a comment

U Panjwani 1 , W Selvamurthy, S H Singh, H L Gupta, L Thakur, U C Rai
Affiliations expand
PMID: 9062044

Abstract

The effect of Sahaja yoga meditation on seizure control and electroencephalographic alterations was assessed in 32 patients of idiopathic epilepsy. The subjects were randomly divided into 3 groups. Group I (n = 10) practised Sahaja yoga for 6 months, Group II (n = 10) practised exercises mimicking Sahaja yoga for 6 months and Group III (n = 12) served as the epileptic control group. Group I subjects reported a 62 per cent decrease in seizure frequency at 3 months and a further decrease of 86 per cent at 6 months of intervention. Power spectral analysis of EEG showed a shift in frequency from 0-8 Hz towards 8-20 Hz. The ratios of EEG powers in delta (D), theta (T), alpha (A) and beta (B) bands i.e., A/D, A/D + T, A/T and A + B/D + T were increased. Per cent D power decreased and per cent A increased. No significant changes in any of the parameters were found in Groups II and III, indicating that Sahaja yoga practice brings about seizure reduction and EEG changes. Sahaja yoga could prove to be beneficial in the management of patients of epilepsy.

Source: National Library of Medicine, National Center for Biotechnology Information, https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/9062044/