title: Effect of rosary prayer and yoga mantras on autonomic cardiovascular rhythms: comparative study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To test whether rhythmic formulas such as the rosary and yoga mantras can synchronise and reinforce inherent cardiovascular rhythms and modify baroreflex sensitivity.
  
  
  METHODS
  Comparison of effects of recitation of the Ave Maria (in Latin) or of a mantra, during spontaneous and metronome controlled breathing, on breathing rate and on spontaneous oscillations in RR interval, and on blood pressure and cerebral circulation.
  
  
  METHODS
  Florence and Pavia, Italy.
  
  
  METHODS
  23 healthy adults.
  
  
  METHODS
  Breathing rate, regularity of breathing, baroreflex sensitivity, frequency of cardiovascular oscillations.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Both prayer and mantra caused striking, powerful, and synchronous increases in existing cardiovascular rhythms when recited six times a minute. Baroreflex sensitivity also increased significantly, from 9.5 (SD 4.6) to 11.5 (4.9) ms/mm Hg, P<0.05.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Rhythm formulas that involve breathing at six breaths per minute induce favourable psychological and possibly physiological effects.
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Medicina Interna, University of Pavia, 27100 Pavia, Italy.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Bernardi
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Sleight
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bandinelli
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Cencetti
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Fattorini
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wdowczyc-Szulc
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lagi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017704:Baroreflex / Q000502:physiology; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000502:physiology; D002320:Cardiovascular Physiological Phenomena; D002560:Cerebrovascular Circulation / Q000502:physiology; D003431:Cross-Cultural Comparison; D004562:Electrocardiography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012067:Religion; D012119:Respiration; D015013:Yoga