STUDY OF EFFECT OF MEDITATION ON GALVANIC SKIN RESPONSE IN HEALTHY INDIVIDUALS

Abstract

Meditation practices mainly change functions through autonomous nervous systems, which links brain and body. Meditation is a technique of yoga practiced in India over thousands of years. Long term yogic practices have shown improvement in cardiovascular functions.OM chanting meditation is a concentrative type of meditation involving focusing of attention on breath. The research was conducted with the purpose to study the effect of meditation on galvanic skin response (GSR). 30 healthy individuals in age group 18-20 were selected. The study group is selected based on inclusion and exclusion criteria. GSR recording was taken for period of 3 minutes  3 days such reading were taken  and average of these 3 readings was taken as pre test GSR value. Then subjects were instructed about how to do OM meditation for 30 minutes daily for 3 month. Last 3 days of 3 month meditation the GSR values were recorded and considered as post test GSR values. It is seen that GSR value increased after 3 months of regular meditation. This increase was statistically significant P= 0.0419. There is a significant positive effect of meditation (Om chanting) on galvanic skin response (GSR). GSR can be used as a physiological measure in the study of different emotional and mental states

Key words: Meditation, GSR.