Preksha Meditation for Cognitive & Respiratory Health

Recruiting at 1 trial location

Age: 18 - 65

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: Orlando Regional Medical Center

Disqualifiers: Prior meditation, Alcohol, Smoking, others

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: 6

Duration: 7 weeks

142 Participants Needed

Trial Summary

What is the purpose of this trial?

The goal of this project is to assess impact of an 8 week course of Preksha Meditation (combination of Green color and buzzing sound meditation), in a group of college students to assess potential benefits to their pulmonary function, cognitive ability (immediate recall, attention), and happiness.

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

The trial information does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications.

What data supports the effectiveness of the treatment Preksha Meditation for cognitive and respiratory health?

Research shows that breathing meditation can reduce stress and improve memory and intelligence in medical students. Additionally, pranayama (a type of breathing exercise) has been found to improve asthma control and respiratory function, suggesting that similar meditation practices may benefit cognitive and respiratory health. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Is Preksha Meditation safe for humans?

There is no specific safety data available for Preksha Meditation, but meditation practices in general are considered safe for most people. If you have any health concerns, it's always a good idea to consult with a healthcare provider before starting a new practice. ^{2 6 7 8 9}

How does Preksha Meditation differ from other treatments for cognitive and respiratory health?

Preksha Meditation is unique because it combines meditative focusing and breathing techniques, which have been shown to improve cognitive performance and respiratory function. Unlike other treatments, it may also lead to changes at the genetic level, as indicated by DNA methylation changes, potentially offering benefits beyond traditional cognitive and respiratory therapies. ^{1 4 9 10 11}

Research Team

Devendra Mehta, M.D., M. SC.

Principal Investigator

Head, Translational Research

Eligibility Criteria

This trial is for healthy college students who have never practiced meditation before. It's not open to those with prior meditation experience, smokers, individuals with health issues, or those who consume alcohol.

Inclusion Criteria

I have never practiced meditation before.

Only people who are in good health can participate.

Exclusion Criteria

You are a smoker.

You have previously practiced meditation.

I have health issues.

Timeline

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2 weeks

Initial Training

Teach technique and carry out 15 minutes meditation sessions

2 weeks

3 visits per week (in-person)

Treatment

Increment meditation sessions to a length of 25 minutes

7 weeks

3 visits per week (in-person)

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for cognitive and pulmonary function improvements

4 weeks

Treatment Details

Interventions

• Preksha Meditation

Trial Overview The study tests the effects of an 8-week Preksha Meditation course on lung function and cognitive abilities like memory and attention in students. The meditation involves a combination of green color visualization and buzzing sound.

Participant Groups

Group I: color meditation Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

only color meditation

Group II: Sound meditation Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Only sound mediation

Group III: Color and sound combined meditation Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Combined group

Group IV: Control group Active Control 1 Intervention

Only control group

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

Orlando Regional Medical Center

Lead Sponsor

Trials

6

Recruited

1,600+

Florida International University

Collaborator

Trials

114

Recruited

19,400+

Findings from Research

Both dhāraṇā (meditative focusing) and ekāgratā (focusing without meditation) significantly improved attention scores in a group of 60 healthy male volunteers aged 17 to 38, indicating that both practices can enhance attention.

However, dhāraṇā led to better performance in the digit symbol substitution test, suggesting it may be more effective for improving incidental learning and accuracy compared to ekāgratā.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Performance in attentional tasks following meditative focusing and focusing without meditation. Raghavendra, BR., Telles, S.[2022]

References

1. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Respiratory function in healthy long-term meditators: A cross-sectional comparative study. [2023]

2. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Efficacy of Bhramari pranayama and Om chanting on asthma control, quality of life, and airway inflammation in asthmatic children: an open-label randomized controlled trial. [2023]

3. India pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Effect of fast and slow pranayama practice on cognitive functions in healthy volunteers. [2022]

4. Thailand pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Breathing meditation by medical students at Khon Kaen University: effect on psychiatric symptoms, memory, intelligence and academic achievement. [2012]

5. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Effect of pranayama breathing technique on asthma control, pulmonary function, and quality of life: A single-blind, randomized, controlled trial. [2020]

6. India pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Adverse drug reaction and concepts of drug safety in Ayurveda: An overview. [2021]

7. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Influence of a Maharishi Ayur-vedic herbal preparation on age-related visual discrimination. [2004]

8. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

An acute, double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover study of 320 mg and 640 mg doses of a special extract of Bacopa monnieri (CDRI 08) on sustained cognitive performance. [2022]

9. Switzerland pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Cognitive Skills and DNA Methylation Are Correlating in Healthy and Novice College Students Practicing Preksha Dhyāna Meditation. [2023]

10. India pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Performance in attentional tasks following meditative focusing and focusing without meditation. [2022]

11. India pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Effect of slow and fast pranayams on reaction time and cardiorespiratory variables. [2022]