05.04.09
Qigong Practice May Change the EEG Pattern
Researchers in China studied the EEG pattern of a Qigong practitioner with 50 years of experiences in Qigong practice (Qin et al., 2009). They found that after 50 years of practice, the resting EEG had frontally dominant alpha-1, compared with the occipitally dominant alpha-2 observed in the year of 1962.
The researchers observed that during the Qigong practice, alph-1 increased quickly and were far more significant than it was 50 years ago. Compared with baseline, these activities continued to be higher even at rest after the Qigong practice.
These findings indicate that extended and long-term practice of Qigong may influence the EEG pattern, as well as the underlying neurophysiology. Such changes may have biological effects and clinical impacts that have been observed in long-term Qigong practitioners. Further studies are necessary to elucidate the mechanisms of these changes and their possible beneficial effects on health.
Reference:
Qin, Z., Jin, Y., et al. (2009) A forty-five year follow-up EEG study of Qigong practice. Int J Neurosci 119, 538-552.
