Changes in biofield measures and experienced states during meditation and breathwork practices: an uncontrolled feasibility study

A feasibility study monitored 23 adults with multiple sensors during guided loving kindness meditation and breathwork. Biofield measures changed as expected for some participants. After meditation, participants reported lower arousal and increased control, boundarylessness, and non-duality. After breathwork, participants reported increased arousal and decreased boundarylessness, connectedness, and non-duality. Strong correlations (r > 0.5) appeared between ultraweak photon emission from both hands, and moderate correlations (r > 0.4) between infrared nose temperature and left hand ultraweak photon emission. The authors conclude that simultaneous multi-sensor monitoring is feasible and that meditation and breathwork produce nearly opposite effects, but larger samples and control groups are needed.

Study at a glance

Abstract

Background: The human body radiates multiple biological fields which can be measured with sensors directly on or off the body. These electromagnetic fields are hypothesized to be altered by mind and body practices. The primary goal of the current study was to evaluate the feasibility of continuous multi-sensor monitoring during meditation and breathwork practices. It also explored methods to investigate whether simultaneous biological field measures correlate as parts of a dynamic system of biofields responsive to changes in states of consciousness. Methods: Twenty-three adults were recruited to participate. The intervention consisted of a guided loving kindness meditation followed by a guided breathwork exercise while equipped with multiple biofield sensors to measure heart rate (HR), heart rate variability (HRV), skin conductance (SCR), alpha waves with electroencephalography (EEG), infrared radiation (IR), and ultraweak photon emission (UPE). Participants completed self-report measures of emotional affect and states of consciousness. Aggregate and individual differences in participants' responses to the meditation and breathwork were assessed. Exploratory analyses of within-subject correlations between biofields were also conducted. Results: = 0.057). Biofield measures changed as expected for some participants. Post-meditation, participants reported lower arousal and increased control, boundarylessness, and non-duality. Post-breathwork, participants reported increased arousal and decreased boundarylessness, connectedness, and non-duality. There were strong correlations (r > 0.5) between UPE from both hands and moderate correlations (r > 0.4) between IR nose temperature and left hand UPE. Conclusion: The current study demonstrated the feasibility of simultaneous measurement using multiple on- and off-body biological field sensors. Meditation and breathwork produced nearly opposite effects on self-report and biofield measures. Preliminary analysis indicated intra-subject correlations between different biofield measures. Future work with a larger sample size and appropriate control groups is required to draw conclusions about the systemic nature of biofield measures and their relationship with states of consciousness.