Effect of Concentrative Meditation on Brain Waves/Activity

There are numerous experts and practitioners who define and explain the meaning and concept of yoga in their own way. Some explain it as a philosophy and others as a science but on the basis of literature available and with our own experience we accept it as a combination of both philosophy and science. We cannot accept it completely as a science because one cannot evaluate everything in the form of experiment related to human behavior and his environment. However it happens (e.g. Kundalini awakening) on the other hand that cannot be justified to accept it totally as a philosophy because there are number of studies have been found which involved science (e.g. physiology and biochemistry etc.).Meditation is the seventh limb of hatha yoga. Although Hatha Yoga is primarily concerned with the physical side, its main objective is to control the mind, which in turn opens the way to higher consciousness. There were many practitioners and experts who explain dhyana (meditation) in their own way, According to Hatha yoga pradeepika written by swami swatmarama meditation comes under antaharanga yoga. The medical benefits of meditation are scientifically proven. From a scientific perspective, we already know by reviewing the literature that meditation leads the brain to create specific brain wave/activity (for example alpha and theta wave/activity). From an emotional perspective, one of the goals of meditation is to cultivate detachment, develop a reduced intensity of emotions and to reduce our desire for novelty. If we meditate regularly for a period of time, we can cultivate a sense of detachment from our hectic life – and by extension our outlook toward work and life changes. By reducing the stimulus field, we reach a state of ‘Flow’ which involves the merging of action and awareness.When the cognition is entirely classified in to two type’s mindfulness and concentrative depending on how the attentional processes are directed. The Most meditations lie somewhere on a continuum between the poles of these two general methods (Andresen, 2000; D. H. Shapiro & Walsh, 1984; B. A. Wallace, 1999). However, meditative traditions often do not characterize themselves according to this schema but rather place more emphasis on the benefits from the 7 practice. Mindfulness practices involve allowing thoughts, feelings or sensations, while maintaining a specific attentional stance: awareness of the phenomenal field as an attentive and non-attached observer without judgment or analysis. Examples include Zen, Vipassana, and the western adaptation to Mindfulness Meditation (Kabat- Zinn, 2003).Concentration is developed by single-mindedly focusing the attention on a selected object. There is a wide range of objects that can be used for meditation, and forty have been specifically recommended in Buddhist literature, although it is quite possible that other things may be included in the list as well. Classical examples are one's own breaths, a Buddha image, candlelight, a painted disc or dyed cloth stretched on a round frame (kasina), water, empty space, or any still object, etc. The reason why a rather large variety of objects is described is to provide a wide choice for practitioners with different preferences and temperaments. A suitable object of meditation facilitates the practice and ensures better progress. In this technique of concentration practice, inhalation and exhalation are employed as a tool to keep the mind still and focused. The mental recitation of bud-dho serves to fortify the practice. Some meditators may find this a more convenient concept on which to retain their attention.

The Buddhist commentaries mention three levels of concentration. The first, momentary concentration (khanikasamadhi), is a quality of mind that is inherently common in all sentient beings. This is an essential faculty that we all need in our everyday activities, and we can experience it even when we are engaged in the most mundane chores like eating, drinking, reading, writing a letter, or driving. In fact, it seems impossible to perform any function effectively without a certain amount of concentration. In the same way, it may also be said that our capacity and efficiency to work depend largely on the amount of concentration we are able to mobilize in the fulfilment of our duties. The second level, called access or approximate concentration (upacarasamadhi), is a more developed form of concentration attainable through the process of mental development mentioned above. At this stage, the mind of the meditator is elevated beyond the ordinary level of consciousness but is not as yet well established in deep concentration. pointedness and is completely under control. There are so many advantages to meditation. When the researcher first originally thought about this, the researcher indeed wanted to make it numerous. Meditation is as powerful as the researcher thought it would be. Here is the definitive list of benefits that meditation can provide to humans as the effect of its practice. Studies have shown that meditation can bring about a healthy state of relaxation by causing a generalized reaction in multiple physiological and biochemical markers, such as increased EEG (electron encephalogram) alpha, a brain wave/activity associated with relaxation.

The recording of the electrical activity of the brain is known as electroencephalography and the electroencephalogram (EEG) is a graphic representation of the electrical activity of the cerebral cortex and influence the sub-cortical structures has upon the cerebral cortex. It is a record of more or less rhythmic fluctuations in the electrical potentials that occur in the brain. The EEG is a graph of voltage against time and is shown as series of biphasic wave/activity, possessing both positive and negative polarities.

BRAIN WAVE/ACTIVITY

There are categories of these brain wave/activity; they ranged from the high amplitude, low frequency delta wave/activity to the low amplitude, high frequency beta

Delta Activity/Wave Theta Activity/Wave Alpha Activity/Wave Low Beta Activity/Wave Beta Activity/Wave Gamma Activity/Wave

Alpha wave/activity are electromagnetic oscillations in the frequency range of 8–12 Hz arising from synchronous and coherent (in phase / constructive) electrical activity of thalamic pacemaker cells in humans. They are also called Berger’s wave/activity in memory of the founder of EEGand are found in the EEGs of almost all normal adult people when they are awake in a quiet resting state of cerebration. These waves/activities occur most intensely in the occipital region but can also be recorded from the parietal and frontal regions of the scalp. Their voltage usually is about 50 microvolt. During deep sleep, the alpha wave/activity disappears. When the awaken person’s attention is directed to some specific type of mental activity, the alpha wave/activity are replaced by asynchronous, higher-frequency but lower-voltage beta wave/activity. As soon as the eyes are opened these alpha wave/activity disappear and are replaced by faster activity of beta wave.

Beta wave/activity or beta rhythm is the term used to designate the frequency range of human brain activity between 13 and 25Hz (13 to 25 transitions or cycles per second). Beta wave/activity is split into three sections: High Beta Wave/activity (19 Hz+); Beta Wave/activity (16–18 Hz); and Low Beta Wave/activity (13–15 Hz). Beta states are the states associated with normal waking consciousness. Beta wave/activity are always recorded from the parietal and frontal regions of the scalp during extra activation of the central nervous system or during tension.

A delta wave/activity is a high amplitude brain wave/activity with a frequency of oscillation between 0–3hertz. Delta wave/activity, like other brain wave/activity, are recorded with an electroencephalogram (EEG) and are usually associated with the deepest stages of sleep (2 and 3

Cortical theta rhythms observed in human scalp EEG are a different phenomenon with no clear relationship to the hippocampus. In human, EEG studies, the term theta refers to frequency components in the 4–7 Hz range, regardless of their source. Cortical theta is observed frequently in young children. In older children and adults, it tends to appear during drowsy, meditative or sleeping states, but not during the deepest stages of sleep.

A gamma wave/activity is a pattern of neural oscillation in humans with a frequency between 26 to 100 Hz, though 40 Hz is prototypical. According to a popular theory, gamma wave/activity may be implicated in creating the unity of conscious perception (the binding problem). However, there is no agreement on the theory.

The brain operates to specific frequencies. Neural and electrical activity in the brain is reflected in wave/activity which can be measured. Depending on the state of the mind, the wave/activity has differing cycles. Beta wave/activity (13 to 30 cycles per second) is the fastest and we are most used to them in our waking state. Alpha wave/activity (eight to twelve cycles per second) is generated in detached awareness and day dreaming. Alpha wave/activity is the link between the conscious and subconscious mind. Theta wave/activity (three to seven cycles per second) appears in the dreaming state and in REM (Rapid Eye Movement) sleep and delta wave/activity (0.5 to 3 cycles per second) are associated with deep sleep. Most of us are used to the faster wave/activity in a waking state but we are not used to consciously entering the lower frequencies. Meditation enables us to access to lower frequencies (alpha and lower), which in itself has recuperative properties and is one of the benefits of meditation.

The specific purpose of the study was to see the effect of concentrative meditation on human brain Activity/Wave with well planned, systematically developed program of meditation. The statistical analysis of data collected on sixteen subjects of age group ranging between 20-25 years belonging to different groups. The subjects were divided randomly into two equal groups consisting of eight subjects each; belonging to group I (concentrative meditation) experiment as pre-test and after the 3rd, 6th, 9th and 12th week along with EEG as to record the progressive performance of the subjects. Finally at the end of 12 weeks the training programmes were concluded. The treatment was given six days a week. To compare the results, analysis was done through frequency analysis and spectral analysis in numeric form with the help of FFT (Fast Fourier Transform) which converted brain Activity/Wave (Hertz) in to numbers by the electronic encephalogram (Sixteen channels) and EEG Analysis Software super Spec version 4.2.6 (RMS). Alpha frequency is the prominent frequency of occipital area and the emphasis of the present study was on the alpha frequency band, the analysis was done for the readings from the occipital region (O1 and O2) with time bound of two minute to transform the wave frequency in the digital form. Digital filters were computer algorithm that took a digitized signal and transformed it by filtering some frequencies. The most common band-pass was from 1 Hz to 50 Hz. In the present study, it was sufficient to have frequency band in the range from 1 Hz to 25 Hz and the data were expressed in μV2/Hz.

Further the data was examined by applying trend analysis through graphical representation and repeated ANOVA with regard to experimental group and control group.

To compare the effect of meditational technique (concentrative meditation) and control group the data

When the comparison was made about brain waves/activity of control and experimental groups it was observed that amplitudes of Delta, Theta, Beta and Low beta activities were found significant and haphazard deterioration whereas the amplitudes of alpha activity (F=2.66, p=.067) were more synchronized with the duration at .05 level of significance found insignificant difference. In order to find the effectiveness of the meditation in producing high frequency alpha activity the researcher had to compare the mean values of treatment group and a control group. On the basis of the post mean comparison concentrative meditation group (173.20±43.72) was higher than the control group (26.19±14.49) during the treatment. Hence, it was inferred that the treatment group (Concentrative meditation) were effective in producing the alpha activity in comparison to that of the control group.

The performance of concentration meditation was associated with the changes the EEG that are capable of generalization across subjects i.e. spectral analysis showed highly individual responses to concentrative practices. The result showed that practice of concentrative meditation has associated with a greater tendency to produce alpha in the meditative state. group.

Again the study explored that as the daily practice of meditation and increased load intensity after particular duration, affected more significantly on brain activity (alpha activity). When an EEG showed alpha spindles at regular intervals with high amplitude it could be presumed that these symbolized meditation and simultaneous rising of one-pointedness.

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Assistant Professor, Department of Physical Education, RSGPGC, Lalitpur (U.P.) India