Project Soma: Cortical Activity of a Body Scan Meditation and Yoga Practice in Healthy Yogis

Cortical Activity of a Body Scan Meditation and Yoga Practice in Healthy Adults: Correlates With Interoceptive Awareness, Healthy Emotionality, and Pain Perception

In this 2-armed randomized cross-sectional experimental study of healthy participants with yoga experience, we will examine the relationship between 4 self-reported enhancing psychological factors, cortical activity captured with functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS), and pain sensitivity (mechanical pressure pain tolerance) captured with algometry.

Specifically, we will examine the correlates of interoceptive awareness and mindful awareness with cortical activity (Aim 1a) and pain tolerance (Aim 1b); determine cortical activity responsiveness of two brief awareness-focused meditations - a resting-based body scan practice and yoga practice (Aim 2a); characterize cortical activity profiles with sequentially delivered body scan and yoga practices (Aim 2b); and elucidate the relationship between interoceptive awareness with healthy emotionality and psychological wellbeing (Aim 3).

Our central hypotheses are that (Aim 1a) higher interoceptive awareness and mindful awareness will moderately correlate with higher cortical activity for both awareness-focused meditation practices; (Aim 1b) individuals sub-grouped into the 'acceptance in action cluster' based on 2 self-report measures will exhibit higher pain tolerance; (Aim 2a) cortical activity will be higher in the yoga practice compared to the body scan practice; and (Aim 2b) higher cortical activity will be observed in the body scan->yoga intervention sequence compared to the yoga->body scan intervention sequence. Furthermore, (Aim 3) we predict that interoceptive awareness will moderately correlate with healthy emotionality and psychological well-being.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Well-Being, Psychological
• Intervention / Treatment: Behavioral: Resting and movement-based focused awareness meditations

Detailed Description

In Aim 1a, we will use self-report measures of interoception and awareness, using the Multidimensional Assessment of Interoceptive Awareness (MAIA) and the Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire - Short Form (FFMQ-SF), and fNIRS to capture cortical activity during brief exposures to resting (Body scan) and movement-based (yoga) practices. We predict that self-reported interoception and awareness will moderately, and directly correlate with prefrontal cortical activity during the Body Scan and Yoga practices. In other words, we expect that higher levels of self-reported interoception and awareness will be positively associated with higher levels of prefrontal cortical activity for both awareness-focused practices.

In Aim 1b, we will use (i) the self-report measures (MAIA and FFMQ-SF) to identify a 'regulatory awareness' cluster and 'acceptance in action' cluster, and (ii) the quantitative sensory test of pressure pain tolerance. We will test the hypothesis that individuals categorized into the 'acceptance in action' cluster will demonstrate higher pressure pain threshold and tolerance compared to the 'regulatory awareness' cluster.

In Aim 2, we will use cortical activity levels captured using fNIRS during two awareness-based practices - Body Scan and Yoga. We expect that cortical activity will be higher during Yoga compared to Body Scan (Aim 2a). We further expect that individuals who initially receive the resting-based meditation and then progress to receive the active-based meditation (Body Scan->Yoga) will at a group level demonstrate higher levels of cortical activity in comparison to individuals who receive Yoga->Body Scan (Aim 2b).

In Aim 3, we will use self-report measures of interoception (MAIA) and self-report measures of healthy emotionality (Emotional Styles Questionnaire, ESQ) and psychological well-being (Scales of Psychological Well-Being, PWB). We predict that interoception will be moderately correlated with healthy emotionality and psychological well-being.

Our contribution will be significant because elucidating cognitive and affective processes of awareness-based practices will help inform who may more favorably respond to different awareness-based practices aimed at cultivating well-being. Our proposed research is innovative because it seeks to advance a sensorimotor and psychological mechanistic understanding of meditation practices that will elucidate the 'active ingredients' responsible for its therapeutic effect.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 14
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• United States
  • Ohio
    • Athens, Ohio, United States, 45701
      • Ohio University

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Adult; Older Adult
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Adults currently engaged in yoga

Exclusion Criteria:

• History of any neurological disorder that could impair brain function

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Treatment
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Crossover Assignment
• Masking: None (Open Label)

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Body scan; Participants will follow an audio-guided meditation in the sitting posture, which provides systematic verbal cues to draw their attention to different body parts to cultivate non-judgmental awareness. This will be performed in blocks of 2-minute increments, for up to 10 minutes, interspersed with 30-second periods of rest - where the participant will allow their mind to wander freely.	Behavioral: Resting and movement-based focused awareness meditations; Resting and movement-based focused awareness meditations
Experimental: Yoga; Participants will follow a video-guided yoga session in the standing posture, which provides verbal and visual cues to draw their attention to their body and breath during upright yoga postures. This practice occurs in 2-minute active intervals for up to 10 minutes, interspersed with 30-second rest to be consistent with the experimental block design.	Behavioral: Resting and movement-based focused awareness meditations; Resting and movement-based focused awareness meditations

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Cortical activity	Oxy-Hb and De-Oxy-Hb	Baseline (T0)
Interoceptive awareness	Multidimensional Assessment of Interoceptive Awareness (MAIA)	Baseline (T0)
Mindful awareness	Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire - Short form (FFMQ-SF)	Baseline (T0)
Pressure pain threshold and tolerance	Computerized pressure pain algometry applied over the ventral thenar eminence, 3 series of ascending stimulus intensities, applied as a slowly increasing ramp of 50 kPa/s. Pain threshold is defined as the first perception or detection of pain, or a numeric rating of 2 on a scale of 0 to 10, where 0 = no sensation and 10 = worst imaginable pain. Pain tolerance is defined as the point of maximum tolerable pain, a numeric pain rating of 8 on a scale of 0 to 10.	Baseline (T0)

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Healthy emotionality	Emotional Styles Questionnaire (ESQ)	Baseline (T0)
Well-being	Scales of Psychological Well-Being (SPWB)	Baseline (T0)

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Ohio University
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Nicholas Karayannis, Ohio University

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): October 31, 2022
• Primary Completion (Actual): June 28, 2023
• Study Completion (Actual): June 28, 2023

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: April 2, 2024
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: April 2, 2024
• First Posted (Actual): April 8, 2024

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): April 8, 2024
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: April 2, 2024
• Last Verified: April 1, 2024

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Other Study ID Numbers: 22-X-97

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: UNDECIDED

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No