Psychological and Physiological Effects of Different Objects of Breath Meditation

NCT06051500 | Completed

• 3 other identifiers: 2023-0749Protocol Version 06/28/2023L&S/CTR FOR HEALTHY MINDS
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 96
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

The goal of this research is to test whether certain areas of focus in breath meditation are connected with certain mental health outcomes. The main question to be addressed is whether attention placed on the breath in the belly versus the nostrils during meditation results in differences in subjective experience, respiration and heart rate. Participants will:

• complete surveys
• have heart rate and respiration measured
• practice focused breathing Participants can expect the study visit to last for one hour.

Conditions

Physiological Stress; Psychological Stress; Emotions

Keywords

meditation; focus; attention; breath

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (3)

• Change in Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS-SF)

  PANAS-SF is a 20-item questionnaire to assess positive versus negative affect. 10 of the items indicate positive affect, 10 indicate negative. Scores can range between 10-50 for positive affect, with higher scores representing higher levels of positive affect. Scores can range between 10-50 for negative affect, with lower scores representing lower levels of negative affect.

  At baseline; after meditation 1 (5 minutes); and, after meditation 2 (15 minutes)

• Change in Respiration

  Using respiration belts, rate of respiration will be collected. Paired with heart rate, this will give us further insight into the physiological responses to the participant's experience of the two variations of breath meditation.

  Baseline to practice 1 epoch (10 minutes); baseline 2 to practice 2 epoch (25minutes)

• Change in Heart Rate

  Using ECG electrodes and a BIOPAC system, heart rate will be monitored. Paired with respiration rate, this will give us further insight into the physiological responses to the participant's experience of the two variations of breath meditation.

  Baseline to practice 1 epoch (10 minutes); baseline 2 to practice 2 epoch (25minutes)

Secondary Outcomes (5)

• Perseverative Thinking (PTQ)

  Baseline only

• Change in Interoceptive Awareness

  At baseline; after meditation 1 (5 minutes); and, after meditation 2 (15 minutes)

• Change in Mindfulness

  At baseline; after meditation 1 (5 minutes); and, after meditation 2 (15 minutes)

• Change in Relaxation

  At baseline; after meditation 1 (5 minutes); and, after meditation 2 (15 minutes)

• Change in Focus

  At baseline; after meditation 1 (5 minutes); and, after meditation 2 (15 minutes)

Study Arms (2)

Nostril focus followed by belly focus

EXPERIMENTAL

Participants will be randomly assigned to concentrate on the nostrils first, then the belly second following a period of rest.

Behavioral: Nostril focus followed by belly focus

Belly focus followed by nostril focus

EXPERIMENTAL

Participants will be randomly assigned to concentrate on the belly first, then the nostrils second following a period of rest.

Behavioral: Belly focus followed by nostril focus

Interventions

Nostril focus followed by belly focus BEHAVIORAL

Focused breathing on the nostrils followed by focus breathing on the belly.

Nostril focus followed by belly focus

Belly focus followed by nostril focus BEHAVIORAL

Focused breathing on the bellyfollowed by focus breathing on the nostrils.

Belly focus followed by nostril focus

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years+
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• at least 18 years of age
• student at UW Madison
• no major history of meditation practice

You may not qualify if:

• under 18 years of age
• not currently enrolled at UW Madison
• have previous meditation experience
• Self-reports a mental health diagnosis

Sponsors & Collaborators

• University of Wisconsin, Madison: lead

Study Sites (1)

University of Wisconsin

Madison, Wisconsin, 53705, United States

Location

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Stress, Psychological

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Behavioral Symptoms; Behavior

Study Officials

• Matthew Hirshberg, PhD

  University of Wisconsin, Madison

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: NONE
• Purpose: BASIC SCIENCE
• Intervention Model: CROSSOVER
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: SPONSOR

Model Details: Random allocation to one of two sequence of meditation practice.

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: September 11, 2023
• First Posted: September 25, 2023
• Study Start: October 20, 2023
• Primary Completion: May 2, 2024
• Study Completion: May 2, 2024
• Last Updated: June 6, 2024

Record last verified: 2024-06

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

US (1)