2 Influence of Controlled Breathing (Pranayama) on Dermal Perfusion
49
Fluctuations in the heart-rate are attributed to modulation of the basic heart-rate
by a number of physiological mechanisms such as blood pressure control, thermoregulation, and respiration. The effect of respiration on heart-rate, respiratory
sinus arrhythmia (RSA), has long been recognized and many explanations have been
proposed. It has been considered as a lung inflation reflex where stimulation of
stretch receptors during inflation caused cardiac acceleration. Others have suggested
the origin of RSA is within the central nervous system and is due to interaction
between the respiratory centers and the autonomic control of heart-rate.
Respiratory sinus arrhythmia (RSA) is mainly due to respiratory modulation of
the baroreceptor reflex. The origin of the respiratory modulation remains unsettled. It
may arise peripherally from intrathoracic pressure changes causing increased filling
of the heart and stimulation of low-pressure receptors in the atria. Alternatively, a
direct inhibition arising from the central respiratory rhythm maybe the cause. Indeed
both mechanisms might play a part depending on the experimental circumstances
thus resolving some of the experimental contradictions.
Many Yogic methods emphasis control and suspension of breath as important
components on the path to transcendence. However, the Pranayamas are varied and
their role is to both improve the physical aspects of breathing and for calming the
mind, the latter being very important in the management of many psychosomatic
disorders. Different types of Pranayama seem to influence the brain functioning in
specific ways. Since the breath seems to link the body and the mind, it is possible to
study this link by studying the effect of Pranayama on some brain functioning.
References
1. https://www.yogasite.com/pranayama.htm
2. J.J. Vidal, Real-time detection of brain events in EEG. Proc. IEEE 65(5), 633–641 (1977)
3. V. Blazek, H.J. Schmitt, Quantitative photoplethysmographie—eine nicht-invasive screeningMeßmethode für die funktionelle Gefäßdiagnostik. Min. Inv. Med. 5(Bd. 3), 123–128 (1994)
4. M.M. Rao, V. Blazek, H.J. Schmitt, real-time detection of brain events using optical sensors:
preliminary results. in Advances in vascular imaging and photoplethysmography eds. by V.
Blazek, U. Schultz-Ehrenburg. (VDI Verlag Köln, 1966), pp. 111–118. ISBN 3-18-322120-9
5. M.M. Rao, V. Blazek, H.J. Schmitt, Investigations on the influence of breathing on brain activity
using optical sensors. Proc. SPIE (USA) 2982, 53–64 (1997)
6. R.R. Ram, V. Perlitz, M.M. Rao, Prominence of low frequency rhythm in the human body
during deep breathing as monitored by photoplethysmography, in CNVD—Computer-aided
Noninvasive Vasculasr Diagnostics, eds. by V. Blazek, U. Schultz-Ehrenburg. Vol. 3, (Mainz
Verlag Aachen, 2005), pp. 57–70. ISBN 3-89653-942-6
7. B.K.S. Iyengar, Light on Pranayama. (Unwin Paperbacks, London, 1983). ISBN 0-04-1490606
8. Breathing. From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
9. M.M. Rao, N. Srinivasan, S. Rajagopal, S. Ramamoorthy, Influence of Pranayama on Microcirculation as monitored by optical sensors. Presented at the International conference on Biomedical Engineering—BIOVISION, Dec. 21-24, 2001, IISc/Bangalore, India, Published in its
proceedings (2001)
10. R. Kayser, Die exakte Messung der Luftdurchgängigkeit der Nase. Arch. Laryngol. Rhinol. 3,
101–120 (1985)
49
Fluctuations in the heart-rate are attributed to modulation of the basic heart-rate
by a number of physiological mechanisms such as blood pressure control, thermoregulation, and respiration. The effect of respiration on heart-rate, respiratory
sinus arrhythmia (RSA), has long been recognized and many explanations have been
proposed. It has been considered as a lung inflation reflex where stimulation of
stretch receptors during inflation caused cardiac acceleration. Others have suggested
the origin of RSA is within the central nervous system and is due to interaction
between the respiratory centers and the autonomic control of heart-rate.
Respiratory sinus arrhythmia (RSA) is mainly due to respiratory modulation of
the baroreceptor reflex. The origin of the respiratory modulation remains unsettled. It
may arise peripherally from intrathoracic pressure changes causing increased filling
of the heart and stimulation of low-pressure receptors in the atria. Alternatively, a
direct inhibition arising from the central respiratory rhythm maybe the cause. Indeed
both mechanisms might play a part depending on the experimental circumstances
thus resolving some of the experimental contradictions.
Many Yogic methods emphasis control and suspension of breath as important
components on the path to transcendence. However, the Pranayamas are varied and
their role is to both improve the physical aspects of breathing and for calming the
mind, the latter being very important in the management of many psychosomatic
disorders. Different types of Pranayama seem to influence the brain functioning in
specific ways. Since the breath seems to link the body and the mind, it is possible to
study this link by studying the effect of Pranayama on some brain functioning.
References
1. https://www.yogasite.com/pranayama.htm
2. J.J. Vidal, Real-time detection of brain events in EEG. Proc. IEEE 65(5), 633–641 (1977)
3. V. Blazek, H.J. Schmitt, Quantitative photoplethysmographie—eine nicht-invasive screeningMeßmethode für die funktionelle Gefäßdiagnostik. Min. Inv. Med. 5(Bd. 3), 123–128 (1994)
4. M.M. Rao, V. Blazek, H.J. Schmitt, real-time detection of brain events using optical sensors:
preliminary results. in Advances in vascular imaging and photoplethysmography eds. by V.
Blazek, U. Schultz-Ehrenburg. (VDI Verlag Köln, 1966), pp. 111–118. ISBN 3-18-322120-9
5. M.M. Rao, V. Blazek, H.J. Schmitt, Investigations on the influence of breathing on brain activity
using optical sensors. Proc. SPIE (USA) 2982, 53–64 (1997)
6. R.R. Ram, V. Perlitz, M.M. Rao, Prominence of low frequency rhythm in the human body
during deep breathing as monitored by photoplethysmography, in CNVD—Computer-aided
Noninvasive Vasculasr Diagnostics, eds. by V. Blazek, U. Schultz-Ehrenburg. Vol. 3, (Mainz
Verlag Aachen, 2005), pp. 57–70. ISBN 3-89653-942-6
7. B.K.S. Iyengar, Light on Pranayama. (Unwin Paperbacks, London, 1983). ISBN 0-04-1490606
8. Breathing. From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
9. M.M. Rao, N. Srinivasan, S. Rajagopal, S. Ramamoorthy, Influence of Pranayama on Microcirculation as monitored by optical sensors. Presented at the International conference on Biomedical Engineering—BIOVISION, Dec. 21-24, 2001, IISc/Bangalore, India, Published in its
proceedings (2001)
10. R. Kayser, Die exakte Messung der Luftdurchgängigkeit der Nase. Arch. Laryngol. Rhinol. 3,
101–120 (1985)