East Meets West: Yoga and Biofeedback

Transcription

1 East Meets West: Yoga and Biofeedback Stephen Larsen, Ph.D. BCIA-eeg Patricia Gerbarg, M.D., Richard Brown, M.D. Willie Yee, M.D. Leslie Sherlin,, M.A. and Jay Gunkelman,, EEG Diplomate

2 The self-liberating liberating power of the introverted mind (Carl Jung) Yogic technology of consciousness is thousands of years old Biofeedback is less than a century old Both aim for the voluntary control of Internal States

3 How is it that the yogi swims strongly in the same seas (of the deep psyche) in which the schizophrenic drowns? Joseph Campbell In this presentation we will use evidence from biofeedback and neurofeedback research along with a preliminary SKY study to help answer this important question.

4 The Discovery of Brainwaves (1924): the energy signature of the brain Hans Berger and a string galvanometer He called the first waves he observed Alpha (8-12Hz) The second kind was Beta (12-28Hz) 28Hz) in 3 ranges

5 Brainwave Signatures Arousal States Beta excited Alpha relaxed Theta drowsy Spindles sleep Delta deep sleep

6 Elmer Green hooks up a yogi Banks of the Ganges, India 1973 Green studied famous yogis, among them Swami Rama & Ram Sharma

7 Research Landmarks 1961 Three Indian Researchers, Anand, Chhina and Singh established the presence of Alpha waves in meditating yogis December 1970, the first world conference on scientific yoga, New Delhi, India (co-sponsored by the International Yoga Institute of Bangalore and Center House in London)

8 Subjects of Ongoing Study Open study 10 SKY practitioners 4 beginners (1 week after 1 st SKY Course) 4 advanced ( years SKY practice) 2 advanced (4-5 5 years daily SKY+meditation) 6 women, 4 men Ages years old

9 Continuous Monitoring 70 min per Subject 5 min baseline, 45 min Long SKY, 20min relaxation 19-channel Mitsar EEG EKG Heart Rate Variability Pulse Plethysmography Respirometry Galvanic Skin Response

10 Dr. Richard Brown connected to the 19 channel Mitsar (along with other measures)

11 Non-synchronous EEG beginning practitioner Some areas: amplitude or frequency coherence Few small areas of phase coherence (synchrony)(

12 Synchronous Brain Waves of a More Experienced Practitioner

13 Alpha Waves: Dr. Stephen Larsen (Fehmi Whole Brain Synchrony)

14 HRV: Regular Waves = High Coherence HeartMath Ujjayi Bhastrika AUM Ujjayi: high coherence Bhastrika: 3 large deviations AUM: 3 large rolling sine waves

15 During SKY Low coherence mostly (red bar) 3 rounds S-M-F 10-minute After SKY High Coherence Slow Cycles: : mixed low/moderate coherence Medium cycles: : low coherence Fast Cycles: : erratic HRV, low coherence, heart rate Second round Kriya: low coherence mostly At min 10 rest: struggle to regain coherence at min 13

16 Ascending Heart Signals Thalamus: Synchronizes cortical activity Inhibits cortical function Facilitates cortical function Amygdala: Emotional Memory Medulla: Blood pressure and ANS regulation Oxytocin Atrial Peptide Dopamine Epinephrine Norepinephrine Copyright 2001 Institute of HeartMath

17 Attachments cause feverish breath. Feverish breath takes away your peace of mind and without peace of mind you fall apart and fall prey to misery. Sri Sri Ravi Shankar Sydney Australia 1996

18 Subject 3 Beginner Baseline Subject 7 Advanced

19 Bhastrika Sx3

20 Subject 3 Beginner: Synchrony Baseline Post-SKY

21 Baseline Sx 7 Advanced

22 Bhastrika Subject 7 Advanced

23 SKriya Sx 7 Advanced

24 High Amplitude Synchrony Sx7

25 Relax after SKY Sx 7 Advanced

26 Sx3 Beginner SKriya Sx7 Adv.

27 Sx 5 Beginner Baseline low α coherence Relax: P-SKYP α & γ coherence

28 Sx7 Adv. Baseline More α coherence Relax p-skyp α β1 1 & γ

29 sloreta Subtracts Pre- & Post SKY Advanced Sx 7 - Alpha 1 & 2 α 1 α 2

30 Adv. Sx 7 Beta 1, Beta 4 β 1 β 4

31 Sx 7 Delta & Theta δ θ θ

32 Preliminary Impressions Neurophysiological analysis of yoga practices supports traditional wisdom and the subjective experience of SKY practitioners. Practices achieve balancing effect by challenging the body-mind system. With repeated challenges over time the physiology of advanced practitioners becomes more robust and flexible.

33 SKY practice illustrates the principle articulated in the Mandukya Upanishad: That the yogi passes through all the states symbolized by the syllable AUM consciously A= = The world of waking consciousness (alpha/beta) U= = The world of Dreams (theta) M= = The world of Deep sleep (delta) The turiya is the thread that interconnects them all.

34 Thanks to Sri Sri Ravi Shankar and the Art of Living Foundation for this unique opportunity to investigate that most elusive, indefinable and yet exquisite something of all: Human Consciousness