Can meditation influence ANS_hopman.pdf

(8 KB) Pobierz
Can meditation influence the autonomic nervous system? A case report of a man
immersed in crushed ice for 80 minutes.
Jan T Groothuis
1,3
, Thijs M Eijsvogels
1
, Ralph R Scholten
1,2
, Dick HJ Thijssen
1,4
, Maria TE Hopman
1
Departments of
1
Physiology and
2
Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Radboud University Nijmegen
Medical Centre and
3
Department of Rehabilitation, St Maartenskliniek; Nijmegen, The Netherlands;
and
4
Research Institute for Sports and Exercise Sciences, Liverpool John Moores University,
Liverpool, United Kingdom.
Background:
The autonomic nervous system responds independently, autonomously and automatically
to changes in the homeostasis of the cardiovascular system and thermoregulation. However, the world
record holder of full-body ice immersion claims he can influence his autonomic nervous system
through the Asian Tummo meditation technique, which is associated with descriptions of intense
sensations of body heat. We, therefore, assessed the cardiovascular and thermoregulatory responses to
full-body ice immersion in this individual.
Methods:
A 51 year old male was fully immersed in crushed ice for 80 minutes whilst performing
Asian Tummo meditation. Blood pressure and heart rate were measured continuously using an
automatic blood pressure device. Core body and skin temperature were measured continuously using
an ingestible telemetric temperature pill and wireless sensors, respectively. Oxygen consumption was
measured using pulmonary gas exchange every 30 minutes.
Results:
Core body temperature during the 80-minute ice immersion period decreased gradually from
37.7 to 37.1°C. Skin temperature decreased at the upper limbs from 28 to 5°C and at the lower limbs
from 28 to 18°C. No immediate blood pressure or heart rate response at the beginning of full-body ice
immersion was observed. Over the full 80-minute ice immersion period, blood pressure gradually
increased from 128/84 to 163/97 mmHg and heart rate from 70 to 90 bpm. Oxygen consumption
doubled from 5.7 at baseline to 11.0 ml/min/kg during immersion and remained stable.
Conclusions:
No immediate blood pressure and heart rate responses were observed, as typically
observed when (partially) submerged into ice(water). Despite 80 minutes of full-body ice immersion
and significant heat loss through the skin, core body temperature was maintained probably by an
increased energy expenditure (and therefore heat production). This individual may have influenced the
autonomic nervous system, thereby actively regulating the cardiovascular system and
thermoregulation.
[290 words]

Plik z chomika:

Inne pliki z tego folderu:

Inne foldery tego chomika:

Zgłoś jeśli naruszono regulamin