Effect of rosary prayer and yoga mantras on autonomic cardiovascular rhythms: comparative study.
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.
Bernardi
L
L
Dipartimento di Medicina Interna, University of Pavia, 27100 Pavia, Italy.
Sleight
P
P
Bandinelli
G
G
Cencetti
S
S
Fattorini
L
L
Wdowczyc-Szulc
J
J
Lagi
A
A
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