Effect of Meditation on Heart Rate Variability
arXiv Preprint Archive July 19, 2021 Sobhendu Kumar Ghatak
Meditation (dhyana) practiced by disciples of the Ramakrishna Mission alters heart rate variability, indicating improved autonomic nervous system dynamics. Analysis of ECG recordings using lagged Poincaré plots, principal component analysis, and autocorrelation shows that meditation reduces heart rate, increases stroke volume, and changes Poincaré parameters (SD1, SD2, SD12) in a nonlinear way. The slope and curvature of SD12 increase after meditation, and principal components of pre- and post-meditation data separate clearly. Entropy of R-wave fluctuations decreases, and heart rate fluctuations become more correlated. These changes suggest meditation improves heart rate dynamics and mental calmness.