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

Plain-language summary

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.

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