Editing Mantra Chanting as an intervention for stress management (section)

= '''Mantra chanting and its physiological correlates''' =
Various physiological measures have been employed to test the effectiveness of mantra chanting on the human brain and body. These methods include electroencephalogram (EEG), functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI), Functional Near-Infrared Spectroscopy (fNIRS), Heart Rate Variability (HRV) and Galvanic Skin Response (GSR) research studies. 2001 research by Bernardi and colleagues, studied the effects of the Ave Maria prayer (Latin) and yoga mantras effect on the cardiovascular rhythms and the breathing rate. Both the stimuli showed slowing of breathing rate to approximately 6 breaths per minute and increased synchronisation and variability in cardiovascular rhythms. Reduction in Heart Rate Variability (HRV) and baroreflex sensitivity signals poor prognosis in cardiovascular diseases. Slow breathing enhances HRV and thus mantra chanting may have a positive impact on cardiovascular health (Bernardi et al., 2001). Another study observed the effect of Om meditation on brain function using Functional Near-Infrared Spectroscopy (fNIRS). The results indicated reduced activation of the pre-frontal cortex (Bhargav et al., 2016). Listening to the Om mantra sound leads to activation of left dorsolateral middle frontal cortex and right supramarginal gyrus implicating activations of neural systems involved in emotional empathy (Kumar et al., 2015). Impact of Om meditation is also observed on Galvanic Skin Response (GSR). A significant increase in GSR values is perceived when Om meditation is practiced for 30 minutes each day for a month suggesting a psychophysiological relaxation (Das & Anand, 2012).