Multiscale cardiorespiratory complexity reveals autonomic signatures of Rajyoga meditation.
Front Psychol June 4, 2026 Raghuwansh Singh, Rajanikant Panda, Mika P. Tarvainen et al.
Meditation in trained Rajyoga practitioners produces a consistent physiological signature: heart rate variability (HRV) increases, respiration slows, and the coupling between breathing and heart rate strengthens, indicating greater parasympathetic nervous system engagement. The study measured 55 practitioners across three 10-minute states—before, during, and after meditation—using multiscale HRV metrics. Time-domain and frequency-domain HRV indices rose during meditation and partially recovered afterward, while non-linear measures also shifted significantly. Exploratory sex-stratified analyses suggested possible differences in effect magnitude that require further study. The findings support multiscale cardiorespiratory analysis as an operational marker of altered consciousness during Rajyoga meditation.