Psychophysiological Correlates of the Practice of Tantric Yoga Meditation

Author(s): Roth, W., Zarcone, V., Kopell, B.

Journal/Book: Archives of General Psychiatry. 1978; 35: 571-577.

Abstract: Autonomic and electroencephalographic (EEG) correlates of Tantric Yoga meditation were studied in three groups of subjects as they progressed from normal consciousness into meditation. Groups differed in their levei of meditation proficiency. Measures of skin, resistance, heart rate, respiration, autonomic orienting response, resting. EEG, EEG alpha and theta frquencies, sleep-scored EEG, averaged evoked responses, and subjective experience were employed.Unlike....previously reported meditation studies, proficient meditators demonstrated increased autonomic activation during meditation while unexperienced meditators demonstrated autoenomic relaxation. During meditation, proficient meditators demonstrated increased alpha and theta power, minimal evidence of EEG-defined-sleep, and decreased autonomic orienting to external stimulation. An episode of sudden autonomic activation was observed that was characterized by the medl4tstor as an approach to the Yogic ecstatic state of intense concentration. These findings challenge the current "relaxation" model of meditative states.

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