Perceptual and Motor Skills, 2003,96, 810-811.

O Perceptual and Motor Skills 2003

SENSORY PERCEPTION DURING SLEEP AND MEDITATION:

COMMON FEATURES AND DIFFERENCES '

K. V. NAVEEN AND SHIRLEY TELLES

Vivekananda Yoga Research Foundafiolz

Summary.-Sleep and meditation are both physiological conditions in which pe-

ripheral sensory input is voluntarily reduced, but sensory perception of internally gen-
erated information continues. However, the two conditions differ in the level of aware-
ness retained.

A single case study of phantosmia (Grouios, 2002), suggested the possi-

bhty that neural mechanisms underlying perception are genetically deter-
mined and persist despite loss of afferent input. There are physiological situ-
ations in which functional deafferentation modifies sensory perception. Sleep
is an actively generated state in which visual and kinesthetic inputs are vol-
untarily reduced by lying still with eyes closed (Campbell, 2000). However,
the other sensory moddties provide the sleeper with a continuous flow of
information as a form of "vigilance" which is necessary as awareness is lost
during sleep (Symons, 1993). Also, dreams often include visual and kines-
thetic components, sometimes based on waking experience (Empson, 1989).
Another unique mental state occurs during meditation which, like sleep,
is a wakeful hypometabolic state of parasympathetic dominance (Young &
Taylor, 1998). However, the two states also have several distinguishing fea-
tures related to the state of consciousness (Tassi & Muzet, 2001). The de-
scriptions of deep sleep (sushupti), dream state (svapna), and deep medtta-
tive experience (thuriya) in ancient Indian texts, clarify these distinctions
(Radhakrishnan, 1997). Meditation involves being able to shut out a range
of stirnuh, as evidenced by absence of alpha blocking in the presence of
diverse stimuli (Anand, Chhina, & Singh, 1955). UnlLke sleep, awareness is
retained throughout meditation, and practitioners are able to attain a deep
meditative state even though they may be required to keep their eyes open
as in Brahrnakumaris Raja Yoga meditation (Telles & Desiraju, 1993). For
example, 11 experienced practitioners of Brahmakumaris Raja Yoga medita-
tion, while participating in a functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI)
study, were able to reach a deep meditative state (suggested by pulse rate
and breath rate changes), while in the 'loud' scanner environment (Khushu,

'Please address correspondence to Shirley Telles, Ph.D., Vivekananda Yoga Research Founda-
tion, 9, Appajappa Agrahara, Chamarajpet, Bangalore 560 018 India or e-mail (anvesana@
vsnl.com).
 SLEEP AND MEDITATION: SENSORY INPUT 81 1

Telles, Kumaran, Naveen, & Tripathi, 2000). All subjects reported vivid
visual images related to the content of the meditation after the session. One
subject showed significant activation in the primary visual cortex. This was
possibly evoked by the visual imagery as it was not seen in the eyes-open
nonmeditative state, and primary visual cortical areas are known to be active
during visual imagery (Sparing, Mottaghy, Ganis, Thompson, Topper, Koss-
lyn, & Pascual-Leone, 2002).
Hence there are n~n~athological, functional states in which the brain is
capable of generating sensory experiences, without input from the periphery.
Possibly the mechanisms involved in at least two of these conditions, sleep
and meditation, are different and distinct.
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Accepfed March 11, 2003