Abstract

KINDELAN CIRA, Eligio; H SYED, Emmanuel; SANCHEZ-HECHAVARRIA, Miguel Enrique  and  HERNANDEZ-CACERES, José Luis. Heart Rate Variability analysis as a tool for assessing the effects of chi meditation on cardiovascular regulation. RCIM [online]. 2017, vol.9, n.1, pp. 30-43. ISSN 1684-1859.

Approximately 30 indices have been proposed for assessing heart rate variability (HRV). Some are mathematically identical or very closely related to each other, and results can be interpreted from completely different viewpoints. Comparing various indices from a tachogram, and combining statistical significance with physiological plausibility could improve the result’s interpretation. Using the "KubiosHRV" package, we studied the "chi-meditation" R-R database available at "Physionet.org", addressing the following questions: i) Which HRV indices are the most suitable for describing meditation effects? ii) Are the effects of meditation beneficial, harmful or insubstantial? iii) Which are the most likely physiological events associated to meditation? It was concluded that power spectrum low frequency component (LF), LF/HF ratio, and nonlinear indices α 1 and α 2, recurrence rate and Shannon entropy performed the best (p<0.05). Observed changes suggest that they harmonize with changes observed in other health-pursuing circumstances as physical training, stress combating; whereas they are in the opposite tendency of changes associated to aging, heavy smoking, high blood glucose levels, autonomic heart denervation and congestive heart failure. Changes induced by chi meditation seem to be associated to increases in respiratory component around0.04 Hz, lower entropy and reduced long-term correlation with higher cardio vascular complexity.

Keywords : heart Rate variability; cardiovascular complexity; chi meditation; heart rhythm modulation by respiration.

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