Can The Cognitive Parameters Of College Students With Learning Disabilities Benefit From Using Mahapraan, A Breathing Based Preksha Meditation?

The efficacy of meditation in cognitive improvement is inadequately studied in college students with learning disabilities. Mahapraan, a short technique taught in Preksha Dhyan, is a simple technique that involves repeated deep breathing followed by a long buzzing sound. In this pilot study, we compared cognitive and pulmonary function changes in college students with and without learning disabilities (LD and no-LD respectively).   Methods: Following IRB approval, we recruited 6 LD and 9 no-LD students. The students practiced Mahapraan with a trained instructor 3 times a week for 30 minutes. We assessed Connors Continuous Performance Test II, duration of buzzing sound during prolonged expiration, and peak flow using a Peak Flow meter at baseline and at 4 weeks.   Results: At baseline, the LD students had poorer cognitive function than the no-LD group. Discrimination power  as measured by detectability, and the consistency of reaction showed improvement (p<0.05) in LD group.   The no-LD students showed significant increase in rate of response.  Both groups showed improvement in the duration of buzzing (10/13, 77%), by an average of 6.8 seconds as well as improvements in Peak Expiratory Flow (11/13, 85%), by an average of  107.5 mls (n.s.).   Conclusion: Except for better consistency and improved discrimination in LD from baseline, cognitive tests changes were similar in both groups. We saw improvement in buzzing duration and Peak Expiratory Flow rates in both groups suggesting similar development of technique. Mahapraan shows promise as a simple technique for cognitive improvement and pulmonary function in both LD and no-LD group

Effects of Combining Meditation Techniques on Short-Term Memory, Attention, and Affect in Healthy College Students.

Meditation refers to a family of self-regulation practices that focuses on training attention and awareness to foster psycho-emotional well-being and to develop specific capacities such as calmness, clarity, and concentration. We report a prospective convenience-controlled study in which we analyzed the effect of two components of Preksha Dhyāna – buzzing bee sound meditation (Mahapran dhvani) and color meditation (leśyā dhyāna) on healthy college students. Mahapran and leśya dhyāna are two Preksha Dhyāna practices that are based on sound and green color, respectively. The study population represents a suitable target as college students experience different stress factors during the school year. This study measures the individual and combined effects of two techniques (one focusing on sound and one focusing on color), on short-term memory, attention, and affect, in novice meditators. We used a battery of cognitive, performance, and compared results with baseline and control values. We found improved cognition, especially attention, short-term memory, and affect in terms of positivity and reduced negativity. Overall, the two techniques produced variable benefits and subjects showed improved scores over baseline for short-term memory, cognitive function, and overall wellbeing. Further studies are required to understand underlying mechanisms for the observed differences between the two techniques and to elucidate mechanisms underlying the more pronounced and global benefits observed with the combined techniques. These results underscore a need to examine individual components of meditation practices in order to individualize treatment approaches for attention disorders in young adults