Neurocognitive and Somatic Components of Temperature Increases during g-Tummo Meditation: Legend and Reality

Maria Kozhevnikov,James Elliott,Jennifer Shephard,Klaus Gramann

doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0058244

Abstract

Stories of g-tummo meditators mysteriously able to dry wet sheets wrapped around their naked bodies during a frigid Himalayan ceremony have intrigued scholars and laypersons alike for a century. Study 1 was conducted in remote monasteries of eastern Tibet with expert meditators performing g-tummo practices while their axillary temperature and electroencephalographic (EEG) activity were measured. Study 2 was conducted with Western participants (a non-meditator control group) instructed to use the somatic component of the g-tummo practice (vase breathing) without utilization of meditative visualization. Reliable increases in axillary temperature from normal to slight or moderate fever zone (up to 38.3°C) were observed among meditators only during the Forceful Breath type of g-tummo meditation accompanied by increases in alpha, beta, and gamma power. The magnitude of the temperature increases significantly correlated with the increases in alpha power during Forceful Breath meditation. The findings indicate that there are two factors affecting temperature increase. The first is the somatic component which causes thermogenesis, while the second is the neurocognitive component (meditative visualization) that aids in sustaining temperature increases for longer periods. Without meditative visualization, both meditators and non-meditators were capable of using the Forceful Breath vase breathing only for a limited time, resulting in limited temperature increases in the range of normal body temperature. Overall, the results suggest that specific aspects of the g-tummo technique might help non-meditators learn how to regulate their body temperature, which has implications for improving health and regulating cognitive performance.

Highlights

The g-tummo meditative practice targeted at controlling ‘‘inner energy’’ is described by Tibetan practitioners as one of the most sacred spiritual practices in the Indo-Tibetan traditions of Vajrayana Buddhism and Bon
The results indicated peripheral temperature increases between 1.2uC to 6.8uC during different conditions
The findings of our research indicate that there are two distinct types of g-tummo practice, Forceful Breath (FB) and Gentle Breath (GB), each characterized by different temperature patterns and neural (EEG) correlates

Summary

Introduction

The g-tummo meditative practice targeted at controlling ‘‘inner energy’’ is described by Tibetan practitioners as one of the most sacred spiritual practices in the Indo-Tibetan traditions of Vajrayana Buddhism and Bon. Little is known about the specifics of the g-tummo technique. The authors reported that three g-tummo meditators showed a dramatic increase of up to 8.3uC in peripheral body temperature (fingers and toes), more modest skin temperature increases of 1.9uC in the navel and lumbar regions, and no increase in rectal temperature. These findings have subsequently been distorted in reports in other sources, possibly due to confusion between Fahrenheit and Centigrade scales or lack of clear specification regarding the anatomical sites of temperature measurement, leading to general claims of temperature increases during gtummo ranging from ‘‘... These findings have subsequently been distorted in reports in other sources, possibly due to confusion between Fahrenheit and Centigrade scales or lack of clear specification regarding the anatomical sites of temperature measurement, leading to general claims of temperature increases during gtummo ranging from ‘‘... up to 15 degrees only within a few moments of concentration’’ [3] to ‘‘17 degrees in peripheral body temperature’’ [8]

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Conclusion