EEG During Sudarshan Kriya:
A Quantitative Analysis

subjects were asked to be comfortable, seated on a chair, with
their eyes closed. Electrodes were placed according to the 1020 system of electrode placement; the recording was conducted
on a 21 channel digital EEG machine, (Profile, Oxford UK),
with AD conversion of 22 bits, and sampling frequency of256Hz. Filter settings were 0.5- 50Hz, a standard sensitivityof 7 uV/mm and a paper speed of 30 mm/sec.was used forrecording the data.

M. Bhatia
Assoc. Prof.
Clinical Neurophysiology,
Dept. of Neurology,All India Institute of MedicalSciences, N. Delhi, India

Artifacts free epochs of 6sec. duration were selected at the rest
condition, during the Pranayam, Bhastrika and the 3 phasesof SK in the first cycle and the 6th cycle, at the end of the SK,
and every 5mts after that for 20 minutes. The pruned data wassubjected to FFT analysis using MATLAB. The EEG frequency
bands were defined as follows: Delta – 0-4 Hz, Theta – 5-7 Hz,
alpha –8-12Hz, Beta 1:13-18 Hz, Beta 2: 19- 30 Hz., and thepower calculated in each band and corresponding frequency
maps were drawn.

Introduction
Sudarshan Kriya (SK) (a rhythmic breathing process), wasdevised by Sri Sri Ravi Shankar. The word “ Sudarshan”
translated from its original sanskrit Su = right, Darshan =vision, “Kriya” means purifying action. This is thus not apure meditation technique, and has been defined as a state ofrelaxation by some and a state of consciousness by others.
This is practiced as a brief & practical self-help stressmanagement strategy. Subjective reports from the participants
indicate that it reduces anxiety & depression and SK has beenfound to be useful in the treatment of depression. Various tools
have been used to study the effect of relaxing techniques onthe mind. These include EEG, evoked potentials (BAER, P300,Middle latency potentials), fMRI, SPECT. EEG has been used
to study changes during meditation, and also long-term effectof regular practice of meditation for the past 2-3 decades.
During Transcendental Meditation(TM)an increased
regularity and amplitude of the alpha activity was noted. The
results have been contradictory as different processes producedifferent changes. The changes observed have been linked tothe type of meditation and duration of meditation practice, as
subjects varied greatly in their meditation techniques,expertise and their performance. The difference in technique
may produce a dichotomy of physiological effects. Most of
the physiological research on meditation has been carried out
on TM, it is not known whether other stylized practices create
the same physiology.

Results:
Coherence: An increase in coherence was observed in the 6thcycle predominantly in the fronto-central regions in the beta
band, and posteriorly in the alpha band.
Frequency Analysis: There was an increased alpha activity
posteriorly during the SK. In addition a central midline theta
activity was observed. The resting EEG demonstrated anincreased focal beta activity. GSR- Increase was observed
during the SK.

Discussion:
The increased coherence suggests increased connectivity. Thisis suggestive of more efficient information processing. The
central midline theta activity, and increase in GSR suggests
activation and the increased alpha is suggestive of relaxation.
Thus there is a combination of relaxation and activation duringthe SK.
Larger no. of subjects need to be studied to define these changes
further.

There are no reports at present on changes in EEG and SK.
The aim of the present study was to study the sequentialchanges in EEG, during the SK.

References:
1. Janakiramaiah N, Gangadhar BN, Naga Venkatesha
Murthy PJ, Harish MG, Subkarishna DK, Vedamurthachar
A. Antidepressant efficacy of Sudarshan Kriya Yoga (SKY)in melancholia: randomized comparison withelectroconvulsive therapy (ECT) and imipramine. Journalof affective disorders 2000; 57: 255-259

Study Design and Methodology:
Five regular practitioners of SK formed the study group. They
were connected with Ved Vignan Maha Vidya Peeth, whoregularly practiced and taught SK. They had attended thebasic course (22hrs), advanced course (4 days) and the teachers
training course. All were females, with a age range from 3545 years, with similar socioeconomic background andeducation. None had a psychiatric illness, neurologic illness,
and none of the subjects were on chronic medications. All thesubjects were asked not to take any central nervous system
stimulants/ caffeine prior to the test.

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3. Naga Venkatesh Murthy PJ, Gangadhar BN. and
Subbarkrishna DK, P300 amplitude and antidepressant
response to Sudarshan Kriya Yoga (SKY). J Affect Disord

EEG: All recording were done in similar conditions. The22

EEG Performed during
and afterSudarshan Kriya
The following are the EEG patterns before starting the Kriya,during Kriya and after the Kriya.

1Pre-Kriya

0.8Med-Phase

0.60.4Fast- Phase 7th cycle

Post-Pranayam

0.20
Slow Phase 7th cycle

1 Min After kriya

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All the research related to Sudarshan Kriya at AIIMS has been :Inspired by Sri Sri Ravi Shankar Ji,
Carried out in collaboration withVed Vignan Mahavidyapeeth, Bangalore,
Funded by Central Council of Research in Yoga and Naturopathy, New Delhi.

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