禪定心電圖研究

Abstract

本研究主要是在探討禪定時心電圖的變化。結果將與靜坐下的控制組做比較。心率變異特性分析(Heart Rate Variability, HRV)對評估心臟自主神經調節功能已被證實為非侵入性且有效的工具。我們可以藉由心率變異特性來評估在禪定時心電圖的變化。首先是探討心電圖R波的偵測方法，偵測R波的目的在於求出心跳的RR區間(RR interval)，接著利用一些線性方法，在時域、頻域跟時頻域做分析比較。在非線性分析方法，則是利用Poincare plot分析RR區間彼此的差異。而R波的位置，可以做為R波心電圖時域分割的對準點。分割後的心電圖經由頻域或時域的分析可以用於禪定生理現象改變的一個參考指標。綜合以上分析的結果來比較禪坐與健康者靜坐這兩種不同狀態的不同之處，進一步證實禪坐心電圖的變化的確迥異於一般人在靜坐時心電圖的變化。

This thesis reports the changes of ECG (electrocardiograph) during the practice of meditation. The results are to be compared with that of control subjects under normal relaxation. Heart rate variability (HRV) in ECG is caused by the fluctuating balance of sympathetic and parasympathetic tone at the sinoatrial node. To analyze the HRV, we first design an algorithm for R wave detection. The extracted R waves allow us to construct the R-to-R interval (RRI) sequence of which the vertical and horizontal axis represents, respectively, the RRI and the time. Quantitative analysis of HRV from the RRI sequence is conducted in time domain, frequency domain, and time-frequency domain. In addition, the Poincaré plots (nonlinear analysis) having been used to evaluate the HRV is also applied in the thesis. We further construct a 2D ECG-period stack-up array to investigate the periodic variation between experimental and control groups. This research work allows us to explore the physiological characteristics in the meditation process.