Goldbeck Florens, Xie Ye Lei, Hautzinger Martin, Fallgatter Andreas J, Sudeck Gorden, Ehlis Ann-Christine
Lab for Psychophysiology and Optical Imaging, Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Hospital Tübingen, Calwerstraβe 14, Tübingen 72076, Germany.
Department for Traditional Chinese Sports, Shanghai University of Sport, Changhai Road 399, Shanghai 200438, China.
Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2021 Jun 8;2021:6673190. doi: 10.1155/2021/6673190. eCollection 2021.
Mind-body exercises such as Yoga or Qi Gong have demonstrated a wide range of health benefits and hold great promise for employment in clinical practice. However, the psychophysiological mechanism underlying these effects remains unclear. Theoretical frameworks highlight as a characteristic and specific mechanism of mind-body exercise for which empirical evidence is scarce. To investigate the exact nature of this mechanism, we tracked acute changes in autonomic nervous system (ANS) activity and subjective state over a common form of mind-body exercise (Qi Gong). Heart rate variability (HRV) and subjective state were assessed in 42 Qi Gong practitioners from China and Germany during a standard moving Qi Gong exercise (Baduanjin). in supine position prior and after the exercise served as a control condition to Qi Gong and to assess changes before and after the exercise. Following Qi Gong, all practitioners reported significantly increased subjective calmness and perceived body activation, attentional focus, and subjective vitality. On the physiological level, a significant decrease of parasympathetic modulation and increase in heart rate indicated a pattern of moderate general physiological activation during Qi Gong. A significant increase in overall RR-interval modulation and cardiac coherence during Qi Gong were indicative of a mechanism of active regulation. Examination of the RR-interval trajectories revealed a rhythmic pattern of ANS activation and deactivation in sync with activating and relaxing segments of the exercise. Significant changes in subjective state, not on the physiological level, before and after the exercise were observed. Significant associations between Qi-Gong-specific beliefs, age, cultural background, and experiential and physiological measures demonstrated the complexity of mind-body exercises as multicomponent interventions. Overall, this study highlights moderate general physiological activation, exercise-dependent rhythmic ANS modulation, and induction of a characteristic state of eutonic calmness as potential psychophysiological mechanisms underlying the health benefits of mind-body exercise.
瑜伽或气功等身心锻炼已展现出广泛的健康益处，并在临床实践中具有巨大的应用前景。然而，这些效果背后的心理生理机制仍不清楚。理论框架强调这是身心锻炼的一种特征性和特定机制，但相关实证证据匮乏。为了探究这一机制的确切性质，我们追踪了一种常见的身心锻炼（气功）过程中自主神经系统（ANS）活动和主观状态的急性变化。在42名来自中国和德国的气功练习者进行标准动功（八段锦）时，评估了他们的心率变异性（HRV）和主观状态。练习前和练习后仰卧位的 作为气功的对照条件，并评估练习前后的变化。气功练习后，所有练习者均报告主观平静感显著增强，身体激活感、注意力集中程度和主观活力感也有所增加。在生理层面，副交感神经调节显著降低，心率增加，表明气功过程中存在适度的全身生理激活模式。气功过程中总体RR间期调制和心脏相干性显著增加，表明存在主动调节机制。对RR间期轨迹的检查揭示了ANS激活和失活的节律模式，与练习的激活和放松阶段同步。观察到练习前后主观状态有显著变化，但生理层面没有。气功特定信念、年龄、文化背景以及经验和生理测量之间的显著关联表明，身心锻炼作为多成分干预措施具有复杂性。总体而言，本研究强调适度的全身生理激活、与运动相关的节律性ANS调制以及诱导出一种特征性的和谐平静状态，是身心锻炼有益健康的潜在心理生理机制。
