An investigation of the effect of Faradarmani Consciousness Field on heart rate variability parameters

Abstract

The Faradarmani Consciousness Field (CF), a complementary and alternative medicine (CAM), introduced by Mohammad Ali Taheri, is a novel qualitative field which is neither matter nor energy. This study was designed to investigate the effects of Faradarmani CF, on autonomic nervous system (ANS) functioning. For this purpose, heart rate variability (HRV) and skin conductance (SC) indices were measured as reliable indicators of ANS changes under the influence of Faradarmani CF. 50 random volunteers (23 females, 27 males; 23 to 77 years of age) take part in this double-blinded study. In order to record a rest mode from the autonomic nervous system as a baseline, each recording was carried out 10-15 minutes after the arrival of the participant to the lab, at least 1 hour after breakfast and before lunch (10 am - 12 noon). The data was recorded in two 5-min sections under fixed environmental conditions. The first 5-min, which is considered a base situation, was recorded without Faradarmani CF. In the second 5-min, participants were under the influence of Faradarmani CF. To obtain HRV parameters, the heart rates (HR) data, derived from BVP signals, was analyzed by power spectral analyses, computed by the biofeedback device (at the Medina Teb Company, Tehran) in both time and frequency domains. Finally, the HRV and SC data were analyzed by two-tailed statistical analysis followed by Tukey post hoc test to compare Faradarmani with baseline mode. Two types of variations, (1) increasing or (2) decreasing, were observed in the studied indices under the effect of Faradarmani CF.Two-tailed statistical analysis of each type exhibited major alterations in HRV parameters, not SC, compared to the baseline. Comparative analysis of the frequency and time domain of HRV showed more significant changes in the frequency domain (VLF: P1=0.0016, P2=0.0147; LF: P1<0.001, P2=0.008; HF: P1=0.0338, P2=0.0086; LF/HF: P1=0.0011, P2=0.0119) compared to the time domain (PNN50: P1=0.0464).According to the results, not only Faradarmani has a significant effect on ANS functioning, but also it exerts different variations on HRV parameters indicating a kind of consciousness that considers one's condition and need.