Resilience to Sleep Deprivation and Changes in Sleep Architecture in Shoonya Meditators
Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center
Summary
This study aims to investigate the effect of a 15-minute meditation practice on sleep architecture and high-frequency Heart Rate Variability (HF-HRV), as well as cognitive performance after both a well-rested and sleep-deprived night.
Description
Sleep is physiologically important for memory consolidation, mood and hormonal regulation, and maintaining low levels of systemic inflammation. However, a substantial proportion of people are reported to regularly sleep less than the recommended 7-9 hours a night. Meditation may be a means to mitigate the negative effects of sleep deprivation, as many types of meditations are associated with increasing high-frequency heart rate variability (HF-HRV), which is an index of parasympathetic control of the heart. Greater parasympathetic drive may be associated with physiological buffering of the det…
Eligibility
- Age range
- 18–60 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Yes
Inclusion Criteria: 1. Shoonya meditation program participants/individuals eligible to participate who are healthy adults of age 18 or older, and reside in the United States. Participants must be able and willing to travel to Boston. 2. Nap Group: Healthy adults of age 18 or older that reside in the United States, nap regularly (at least 3 times a week), and do not meditate regularly. Exclusion Criteria: 1. History of any neurological condition (i.e. Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, Huntington's disease, brain tumors, brain surgery, or multiple sclerosis) 2. History of any psychiat…
Interventions
- BehavioralNap Practitioners
Regular nappers will be given a 30 minute nap opportunity to nap for as long as they please.
- BehavioralShoonya Meditation
This is a 15 minute meditation, described as a process of conscious non-doing.
Location
- Beth Israel Deaconess Medical CentreBoston, Massachusetts