Title: Enhancement of inter-hemispheric brain waves synchronisation after Pranayama practice

Authors: Tapan Gandhi; Ankit Kapoor; Chhaya Kharya; Veda Vrata Aalok; Jayashree Santhosh; Sneh Anand

Addresses: Centre for Biomedical Engineering, Brain Dynamics and Cognitive Engineering Laboratory, Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi 110016, India; Biomedical Engineering Unit, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi 110029, India. ' Department of Electronics, NIT SuratKhal, 506004, India. ' Biomedical Engineering Unit, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi 110029, India. ' Biomedical Engineering Unit, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi 110029, India. ' Computer Services Center, Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi 110016, India. ' Centre For Biomedical Engineering, Brain Dynamics and Cognitive Engineering Laboratory, Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi 110016, India; Biomedical Engineering Unit, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi 110029, India

Abstract: Pranayama practices are being used since ancient times as a holistic approach by saints and yogis to improve and control the subtle phenomenon of the brain and hence to bring mind and body in synchrony using breath as a link. This work is an attempt to understand this subtle phenomenon of the brain and the process of attaining higher state of cognition followed by consciousness. From the Electroencephalogram (EEG) signal analysis, it was observed that with the increase in Pranayama practices, the frequency of oscillation shifts from lower-frequency range to higher-frequency range with the significant rise of gamma power (>40 Hz) in frontal, central and also some part of temporal region of the brain. This frequency shifts count for attaining higher cognitive states leading to consciousness of human brain.

Keywords: pranayama practices; holistic; EEG; electroencephalograms; cognition; gamma power; inter-hemispheric brain waves; brain wave synchronisation; higher cognitive states; consciousness; human brain.

DOI: 10.1504/IJBET.2011.042494

International Journal of Biomedical Engineering and Technology, 2011 Vol.7 No.1, pp.1 - 17

Published online: 21 Jan 2015 *

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