Shaolin Dan Tian Breathing Fosters Relaxed and Attentive Mind

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University

Status and phase: Unknown; Phase 2; Phase 1

Conditions: Electroencephalography; Attention

Treatments: Behavioral: Dan Tian Breathing; Behavioral: Progressive muscle training

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT00988702

Chanwuyi-0006

Details and patient eligibility

About

The present study aimed to utilize these well-known neuroelectrophysiological techniques to investigate the relatively less studied Shaolin Dan Tian Breathing (DTB) technique.

Full description

Neuroelectrophysiological studies on various types of meditative breathing revealed its association with either a relaxing (i.e., enhanced alpha asymmetry) or an attentive state (i.e., enhanced intra- and inter-hemispheric theta coherence). The present study aimed to utilize these well-known neuroelectrophysiological techniques to investigate the relatively less studied Shaolin Dan Tian Breathing (DTB) technique. This technique consists of two components -- Passive DTB and Active DTB, and is considered not only as a relaxation exercise but also a form of Qigong. Based upon some pilot neuroimaging data and clinical observation, it was hypothesized that after familiarizing with the method, practicing DTB can induce both relaxing and attentive states. Twenty-two adults received training on the DTB (experimental group) for one month. They were instructed to practice the technique daily, and at each practice, until they felt warm and/or relaxed. Twenty age-, gender- and education-matched adults receiving conventional progressive muscle relaxation training were recruited as control. All participation was voluntary. Quantitative EEG and bio-physiological data were collected at baseline and post training. Eyes-closed resting EEG data before and immediately after each type of breathing were obtained individually at two time points.

Enrollment: 100 estimated patients

Sex: All

Ages: 20 to 60 years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• healthy controls
• age 20 to 60 years

Exclusion criteria

• history of head injury,
• seizure,
• stroke,
• other CNS diseases or psychiatric illnesses of psychosis or mania.

Trial design

Primary purpose: Basic Science

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Single Blind

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100 participants in 2 patient groups

Dan Tian Breathing

Experimental group

Description:

subjects received one-month's training on the Dan Tian Breathing

Treatment:

Behavioral: Dan Tian Breathing

Progressive muscle relaxation training

Active Comparator group

Description:

Subjects received one-month's conventional progressive muscle relaxation training

Treatment:

Behavioral: Progressive muscle training