title: Effect of Sudarshan Kriya (meditation) on gamma, alpha, and theta rhythm during working memory task.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The present study focuses on analyzing the effects of Sudarshan Kriya yoga (SKY) on brain signals during a working memory (WM) task. To envision the significant effects of SKY on WM capacity (WMC), we chose a control group for contriving a cogent comparison that could be corroborated using statistical tests.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 25 subjects were taken in the study, of which 10 were allotted to a control group and 15 to an experimental group. Electroencephalograph was taken during a WM task, which was an automated operation span test before and after SKY with 90 days intervals. No SKY was given to the control group.
  
  
  METHODS
  t-test and one-way ANOVA were applied.
  
  
  RESULTS
  SKY promoted the efficient use of energy and power spectral density (PSD) for different brain rhythms in the desired locations as depicted by the gamma (F8 channel), alpha, and theta 2 (F7 and FC5) bands. It was found that gamma PSD reduced for both phases of memory in the experimental group. Alpha energy increased during the retrieval phase in the experimental group after SKY. Theta 1 rhythm was not affected by SKY, but theta 2 had shown left hemispheric activation. Theta rhythm was associated with memory consolidation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  SKY had shown minimized energy losses while performing the task. SKY can improve WMC by changing the brain rhythms such that energy is utilized efficiently in performing the task.
authors: Department of Bio Medical Engineering, Institute of Nuclear Medicine and Science, DRDO, New Delhi, India.
authors: Sushil
authors: S
authors: Chandra
authors: Department of Bio Medical Engineering, Institute of Nuclear Medicine and Science, DRDO, New Delhi, India.
authors: Greeshma
authors: G
authors: Sharma
authors: Department of Instrumentation and Control Engineering, Netaji Subhas Institute of Technology, DRDO, New Delhi, India.
authors: Alok Prakash
authors: AP
authors: Mittal
authors: Scientific Analysis Group, DRDO, New Delhi, India.
authors: Devendra
authors: D
authors: Jha
keywords: Electroencephalograph; Sudarshan Kriya yoga; working memory