Abstract
BACKGROUND: College students face stressors like academic workload, competition, time management and financial concerns, which affect their psychological, physiological and cognitive functions. Meditation techniques can help mitigate these challenges. OBJECTIVE: The study aimed to investigate the influence of the Mind Sound Resonance Technique (MSRT), a meditation method, on cognitive functions and psychophysiological variables among college students. METHODS: Fifty experienced yoga practitioners (aged 19-30 years, with 30 of them being female) participated in a randomised controlled study. The subjects were split into two groups at random: the meditation group (n = 25) and the supine rest (SR) group (n = 25). Participants in the meditation group underwent one month of MSRT training, whereas those in the SR group rested supine for the same amount of time. Self-reported psychological assessments and the Stroop-colour word test were collected at baseline and after one month of intervention. On both days (day 1 and day 30), a continuous electrocardiogram (ECG) was also recorded for heart rate variability (HRV) at rest (pre-task), during task and post-task. RESULTS: The MSRT group exhibited significant changes in HRV at baseline, during the Stroop task and post-task conditions, along with significant cognitive and psychological changes. The study found significant differences in cognitive tasks [accuracy rate (P < .05), reaction time (P < .05)] and HRV (P < .05) between the MSRT and SR groups. No significant change was observed in the SR group. CONCLUSION: MSRT appears to have the potential to enhance cognitive and psychophysiological functions in college students. In this regard, MSRT may be implemented to alleviate the effects of stressful environments and improve the overall well-being of college students.