Effects of guided Heartfulness meditation on meditation depth and brain waves

INTERVENTION: Participants with no significant meditation experience will be randomly allocated into two groups using a computer program Group 1: Participants with unguided sessions close their eyes for 5 minutes while EEG recordings are performed. Following 5 minutes, they will be asked to rela Xwith their eyes closed for 30 minutes with continued recording. After finishing the session, they fill out a meditation depth questionnaire and answer questions on subjective experience. Group 2: Participants with a trainer‐guided session close their eyes for 5 minutes while EEG recordings are performed. After 5 minutes, they will do a guided relaxation and meditation session for 30 minutes with a Heartfulness trainer with continued recording. After finishing the session, they also fill out a meditation depth questionnaire. Any willing participant from Group 1 will be given an opportunity to participate in the Group 2 intervention (trainer‐guided session) on a different day or the same day after a 15–20‐minute break. A group of experienced Heartfulness meditators will be recruited with the help of the Heartfulness Institute, Dayton, to undergo a similar trainer‐guided session as group 2. Heartfulness meditation trainers who will be conducting the guided sessions will also be participating in measuring EEG recordings for themselves. Each participant will be tested individually. Guided sessions will be conducted one‐on‐one (participant and trainer) as well. CONDITION: Meditation experience ; Mental and Behavioural Disorders PRIMARY OUTCOME: ; 1. Processed EEG in the form of Color Density Spectral Analysis (CDSA) along with Bispectral Index (BIS) measured (0‐100) by BIS monitor, assessed for the following:; 1.1. Participants with no significant (less than 100 hours) meditation experience while simply closing their eyes for 5 minutes followed by relaxing for 30 minutes.; 1.2. Participants with no significant (less than 100 hours) meditation experience while simply closing their eyes for 5 minutes and then with trainer‐guided Heartfulness relaxation and meditation for 30 minutes.; 1.3. Participants with more than 10 years of experience with Heartfulness meditation while simply closing their eyes for 5 minutes and then with trainer‐guided Heartfulness relaxation and meditation for 30 minutes.; 2. Participants’ subjective experience assessed using a MEDEQ questionnaire and subjective questions regarding the experience that measure the depth of the meditation experience after the session; SECONDARY OUTCOME: Processed EEG in the form of Color Density Spectral Analysis (CDSA) along with Bispectral Inde X(BIS) measured (0‐100) by BIS monitor for the Heartfulness trainer conducting guided Heartfulness relaxation and meditation for 30 minutes and assess if there is any resonance reflected by EEG‐CDSA; between the trainer and meditator during the last 10 minutes of the session. INCLUSION CRITERIA: 1. Adults 18 years or older with less than 100 hours of meditation experience residing in the Dayton area 2. Experienced Heartfulness meditators and trainers residing in the Dayton area