অরিনবাবুর টই দেখে উৎসাহিত হয়ে সুতো খুললাম। এইখানে স্নায়ুবিজ্ঞানের আলোকে প্রাণায়ামের ব্যাপারটা আলোচনা করা হোক। প্রাণায়ামের গুনাগুন সম্পর্কে নীচের রেফারেন্সগুলো রাখলাম।

 

1) Neuroscience of the Yogic Theory of Mind and Consciousness
Tripathi, Vaibhav; Bharadwaj, Pallavi

 

Department
Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Laboratory for Information and Decision Systems

 

Abstract
<p>Yoga as a practice and philosophy of life has been followed for more than 4500 years with known evidence of Yogic practices in the Indus Valley Civilization. A plethora of scholars have contributed to the development of the field, but in last century the profound knowledge remained inaccessible and incomprehensible to the general public. Last few decades have seen a resurgence in the utility of Yoga and Meditation as a practice with growing scientific evidence behind it. Significant scientific literature has been published, illustrating the benefits of Yogic practices including asana, pranayama and dhyana on mental and physical well being. Electrophysiological and recent functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI) studies have found explicit neural signatures for Yogic practices. In this article, we present a review of the philosophy of Yoga, based on the dualistic Sankhya school, as applied to consciousness summarized by Patanjali in his Yoga Sutras followed by discussion on the five vritti (modulations of mind), practice of pratyahara, dharana, dhyana, different states of samadhi, and samapatti. We introduce Yogic Theory of Mind and Consciousness (YTMC), a cohesive theory that can model both external modulations and internal states of the mind. We propose that attention, sleep and mind wandering should be understood as unique modulatory states of the mind. YTMC allows us to model the external states, internal states of meditation, samadhi and even the disorders of consciousness. Further, we list some testable neuroscientific hypotheses that could be answered using YTMC, analyse the benefits, outcomes and possible limitations.</p>

 

 

2) Pranayamas and Their Neurophysiological Effects
Stephany Campanelli, Adriano Bretanha Lopes Tort,¹ and Bruno Lobão-Soares

 

 

Abstract
Introduction:
The millenarian breathing exercises from Yoga, commonly called Pranayamas, are known to induce meditative states, reduce stress, and increase lung capacity. However, the physiological mechanisms by which these practices modulate the human nervous system still need to be unveiled.
Objectives:
The aim of this work was to review studies describing the influence of breathing exercises on the brain/mind of humans.
Methodology:
We reviewed articles written in English and published between 2008 and 2018. Inclusion and exclusion criteria were based on the PRISMA recommendations to filter articles from Science Direct, PubMed, and Virtual Health Library databases. Patient/Population, Intervention, Comparison, and Outcome technique and Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews registration were also considered.
Results:
From a total of 1588 articles, 14 attended the criteria. They were critically compared to each other and presented in a table divided into study; country; sample size; gender; age; objective; technique; outcome.
Discussion:
In general, the 14 papers highlight the impact of yogic breathing techniques on emotional and cognitive performance.
Conclusion:
In-depth studies focusing on specific aspects of the practices such as retentions, prolonged expiration, attention on fluid respiration, and abdominal/thoracic respiration should better elucidate the effects of Yogic Breathing Techniques (YBT).

 

 

 

3) Proposed physiological mechanisms of pranayama: A discussion
Samiran Mondal

 

Abstract
Background
Pranayama, or yogic breathing technique, is now well-known worldwide by ordinary people, doctors, and scientific communities for its immediate and long-term physiological effect. However, no comprehensive physiological mechanisms explained pranayama. The present study proposed these physiological mechanisms to interpret the underlying science behind pranayama.
Method
The author searches PubMed/Medline internet sources for authentic scientific data and articles to acquire evidence following specific keywords. The author reviewed a total of seventy-three papers, following PRISMA guidelines. 17 full articles, including seven systematic reviews, five clinical trials, two observational studies, and three randomized control trials, have been selected to discuss proposed physiological mechanisms.
Discussion
This study proposes physiological mechanisms of pranayama. It is commenced from Step 1. Activation of mechanoreceptors and chemoreceptors in the respiratory system; then Step 2. Activation of mechanoreceptors and chemoreceptors in the circulatory system, followed by Step 3. Activation of brain respiro-circulatory control centre; Step 4. Activation of the cerebellum; Step 5. Activation of the limbic system and finally end with; Step 6. Activation of the cerebral cortex. The physiological adjustment and adaptation mechanisms due to pranayama of all these six proposed areas have been discussed. Authentic scientific evidence has also been presented to support these proposed physiological mechanisms of pranayama. The author stated the study's limitations and suggested future specific scientific experiments in this area of proposed physiological mechanisms of pranayama.
Conclusion
These prospective proposed physiological mechanisms of pranayama in the future may provide the best scientific background for therapeutic rehabilitation and for the healthy population to maintain their general wellness.

 

4) The neuroscience of breathing techniques

 

5) Zaccaro, Andrea, et al. "Neural correlates of non-ordinary states of consciousness in pranayama practitioners: the role of slow nasal breathing." Frontiers in Systems Neuroscience 16 (2022): 803904.