Preksha Meditation for Cognitive & Respiratory Health

Not currently 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

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial explores how Preksha Meditation can enhance lung function, memory, attention, and happiness in college students. Participants will practice either color meditation, sound meditation, or a combination of both, with a control group for comparison. Ideal participants are healthy college students who have never tried meditation. As an unphased trial, this study provides a unique opportunity to explore the benefits of meditation firsthand.

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 prior data suggests that Preksha Meditation is safe for cognitive and respiratory health?

Research has shown that meditation practices, such as Preksha Meditation, are generally safe for most people. Although specific safety data for Preksha Meditation is lacking, studies on similar techniques have demonstrated benefits for cognition and mood. For example, one study found that color and sound meditation improved focus, short-term memory, and overall positivity in college students.

Another study indicated that Preksha Dhyana meditation might enhance mental performance and influence certain biological processes. These results are promising, and no negative effects were reported. Meditation is usually well-tolerated, but those with concerns or existing health conditions should consult a healthcare provider before starting a new practice. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Researchers are excited about Preksha Meditation because it offers a holistic and non-invasive approach to improving cognitive and respiratory health. Unlike conventional treatments that often rely on medication or physical therapies, Preksha Meditation incorporates mental exercises like color and sound meditation. These techniques aim to enhance mental clarity and breathing patterns, potentially offering a unique mind-body connection that existing treatments don't address. By focusing on meditation, this approach could also provide a stress-reducing benefit, which is a significant factor in overall health.

What evidence suggests that this trial's meditation techniques could be effective for cognitive and respiratory health?

Research has shown that Preksha Meditation can enhance thinking skills and breathing health. In this trial, participants will engage in different meditation practices. For those in the color meditation arm, one study found it helps college students focus better and think more clearly. Participants in the sound meditation arm may experience benefits such as reduced anxiety and improved memory and attention. When color and sound meditation are combined, as in another arm of this trial, research indicates enhanced thinking skills, particularly in focus and short-term memory, along with improved mood. These findings suggest that Preksha Meditation benefits mental and breathing health. ^{1 6 7 8 9}

Who Is on the Research Team?

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

Principal Investigator

Head, Translational Research

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

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 for a Trial Participant

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

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

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.

How Is the Trial Designed?

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+

Published Research Related to This Trial

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]

Citations

1. clinicaltrials.gov clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/study/NCT03779269

Study Details | Effect of Preksha Meditation on Cognitive Abilities ... An unfavorable change in the health of a participant, including abnormal laboratory findings, that happens during a clinical study or within a certain amount of ...

2. withpower.com withpower.com/trial/phase-4-2017-7660d

Preksha Meditation for Cognitive & Respiratory Health 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), ...

3. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36749149/

Preksha Dhyāna Meditation Effect on the DNA Methylation ... Preksha Dhyana meditation (PM) was found to be effective, in novice healthy college student meditators, at the cognitive skills and transcriptomic levels.

4. researchgate.net researchgate.net/publication/298796108_Can_The_Cognitive_Parameters_Of_College_Students_With_Learning_Disabilities_Benefit_From_Using_Mahapraan_A_Breathing_Based_Preksha_Meditation

(PDF) Can The Cognitive Parameters Of College Students ... Can The Cognitive Parameters Of College Students With Learning Disabilities Benefit From Using Mahapraan, A Breathing Based Preksha Meditation?

5. sciencedirect.com sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0306987720310094

Neural mechanism of attention control in long-term preksha ... This mechanism will provide the scientific evidence to understand the attention control mechanisms resulting from the advanced state of preksha meditation.

6. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7973112/

Effects of Combining Meditation Techniques on Short-Term ... The study found improved cognition, especially attention, short-term memory, and affect (positivity and reduced negativity) in college students.

7. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10452635/

Cognitive Skills and DNA Methylation Are Correlating in ... Preksha Dhyana meditation has been observed to seemingly affect the cognitive performance, transcriptome, and methylome of healthy and novice participant ...

8. ctv.veeva.com ctv.veeva.com/study/effect-of-preksha-meditation-on-cognitive-abilities-and-pulmonary-function-in-students

Effect of Preksha Meditation on Cognitive Abilities and ... The goal of this project is to assess impact of an 8 week course of Preksha Meditation (combination of Green color and buzzing sound ...

9. researchgate.net researchgate.net/publication/376478979_Evaluation_Of_The_Effect_Of_Preksha_Meditation_In_Managing_The_Depressive_Component_Of_MADD

(PDF) Evaluation Of The Effect Of Preksha Meditation In ... Yogic methods like Yoga Nidra and Preksha Meditation have shown beneficial outcomes in managing psychological comorbidities such as stress and ...