IIT Delhi, AIIMS Delhi, and Mahajan Imaging Unveil First-of-Its-Kind fMRI Study on Yoga Nidra

Researchers from IIT Delhi, AIIMS Delhi, and Mahajan Imaging Delhi, have conducted the inaugural functional MRI (fMRI) investigation into the neural mechanisms of Yoga Nidra. Know details here

Researchers from IIT Delhi, AIIMS Delhi, and Mahajan Imaging Delhi collaborated on the pioneering functional MRI (fMRI) study investigating the neural processes involved in Yoga Nidra. Their findings demonstrate that Yoga Nidra induces profound relaxation and heightened awareness. Moreover, the study reveals that individuals with extensive yoga/meditation experience experience more pronounced changes in brain activity during Yoga Nidra practice.

This work carried out at the National Resource Centre for Value Education in Engineering (NRCVEE), IIT Delhi, was supported by the Department of Science and Technology, India, under the Science and Technology for Yoga and Meditation (SATYAM) program.

What is Yoga Nidra?

Yoga Nidra, commonly known as 'yogic sleep' or 'non-sleep deep rest (NSDR)', aims to induce deep relaxation alongside heightened awareness. This practice is utilized by practitioners to enhance their meditative states, and numerous research studies have highlighted its substantial mental health benefits. It is theorised that Yoga Nidra impacts neural pathways associated with sleep, self-regulation, and wandering thoughts.

The study offers fresh perspectives on how Yoga Nidra influences brain function, examining both experienced individuals in meditation and yoga and newcomers to the practice. The study, titled "Functional Connectivity Changes in Meditators and Novices during Yoga Nidra Practice," was published in the international journal Scientific Reports and involved two groups: 30 meditators (householders with an average of 3000 hours of experience in meditation and/or yogic practices) and 31 matched novice controls.

The research revealed that experienced meditators exhibit less connectivity in the Default Mode Network compared to novices. This variation in brain communication patterns sheds light on how Yoga Nidra influences brain function, facilitating deep relaxation alongside heightened awareness.

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