title: A Functional Near-Infrared Spectroscopy Study of High-Frequency Yoga Breathing Compared to Breath Awareness.
abstract: BACKGROUND High-frequency yoga breathing (breath rate of 2.0 Hz) has been associated with changes in oxy-hemoglobin in the prefrontal region of the brain. The present study assessed the effects of high-frequency yoga breathing (HFYB) at 1.0 Hz on frontal oxy-hemoglobin (oxy-Hb) and deoxy-hemoglobin (deoxy-Hb). MATERIAL AND METHODS Forty healthy male participants were recruited for the study. The experimental group consisted of 20 participants 23-40 years old (group mean ±S.D., 26.4±4.7 years) with at least 3 months of experience performing HFYB (group mean ±S.D., 16.3±9.8 months). The control group consisted of 20 participants ages 23-38 years (group mean age ± S.D., 27.4±4.1 years), who were seated quietly for the same duration and their average experience of yoga practice was (±S.D.) 4.3±2.7 months. Each participant in the experimental group was assessed at 2 sessions (HFYB and breath awareness [BAW]) on alternate days. Hemodynamic changes were assessed using a functional near-infrared spectroscopy sensor placed over the forehead. Data were analyzed using repeated-measures analyses of variance followed by post hoc Bonferroni adjustment. RESULTS A significant reduction was observed in oxy-Hb during and after HFYB on the left and right sides compared to values before. We also found a significant reduction in deoxy-Hb during and after the quiet sitting control session compared to pre-session values on left and right sides. CONCLUSIONS The decrease in oxy-Hb during and after HFYB suggests that there was no frontal activation during HFYB when practiced at the rate of 1.0 Hz.
authors.affiliation: Department of Yoga Research, Patanjali Research Foundation, Haridwar, India.
authors.forename: Shirley
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Telles
authors.affiliation: Department of Yoga Research, Patanjali Research Foundation, Haridwar, India.
authors.forename: Ram Kumar
authors.initials: RK
authors.lastname: Gupta
authors.affiliation: Department of Yoga Research, Patanjali Research Foundation, Haridwar, India.
authors.forename: Nilkamal
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Singh
authors.affiliation: Department of Yoga Research, Patanjali Research Foundation, Haridwar, India.
authors.forename: Acharya
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Balkrishna
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002536:Cerebral Arteries / Q000502:physiology; D006439:Hemodynamics; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D019122:Meditation; D010108:Oxyhemoglobins / Q000378:metabolism; D017397:Prefrontal Cortex / Q000502:physiology; D012119:Respiration; D019265:Spectroscopy, Near-Infrared / Q000379:methods; D015013:Yoga; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D010108:Oxyhemoglobins