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| LETTER TO EDITOR |
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| Year : 2019 | Volume
: 7
| Issue : 1 | Page : 24-25 |
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“How to Interpret Integral Area Variable of Gas Discharge Visualization?” – Response to the Letter to Editor
Suman Bista1, Nishitha Jasti2, Hemant Bhargav2
1 Department of Yoga and Physical Sciences, Svyasa University, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India
2 Department of Psychiatry, NIMHANS Integrated Centre for Yoga, National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India
| Date of Web Publication | 28-Mar-2019 |
Correspondence Address:
Dr. Hemant Bhargav
Department of Psychiatry, NIMHANS Integrated Centre for Yoga, National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences, Hosur Road, Bengaluru - 560 029, Karnataka
India
 Source of Support: None, Conflict of Interest: None  | Check |
DOI: 10.4103/ijny.ijoyppp_16_18
How to cite this article:
Bista S, Jasti N, Bhargav H. “How to Interpret Integral Area Variable of Gas Discharge Visualization?” – Response to the Letter to Editor. Int J Yoga - Philosop Psychol Parapsychol 2019;7:24-5 |
How to cite this URL:
Bista S, Jasti N, Bhargav H. “How to Interpret Integral Area Variable of Gas Discharge Visualization?” – Response to the Letter to Editor. Int J Yoga - Philosop Psychol Parapsychol [serial online] 2019 [cited 2023 May 28];7:24-5. Available from: https://www.ijoyppp.org/text.asp?2019/7/1/24/255078 |
Sir,
Recently, a letter[1] was published in your esteemed journal in which it was pointed that the discussion part of our previous publication[2] was erroneous. In the letter, the authors argued that a reduction in the integral area (IA) variable, assessed through gas discharge visualization (GDV) technique, should be considered as a positive outcome. Furthermore, the authors suggested that the increase in IA should be considered as a negative outcome as they correlated it with increased availability of electrons and free radicals in the body. The authors quoted an earlier study which showed a reduction in IA (right and left) after the intervention of anapanasati meditation.[3] However, this study was a single group pre-post study and did not have a control group. In fact, our literature review revealed that a study with more robust methodology (controlled trial) found that there was a significant increase in IA (left and right) values after the intervention of cyclic meditation.[4] The authors of the study[4] have stated “In one of the previous studies these IA values were found more in healthy people in comparison to asthma patients.[5] From this, we may state that the improvement in IA parameter in the current study may be an indication of improvement toward good psychosomatic health” (4, p. 122). Another study[6] assessed the effect of integrated yoga program on healthy non-smoker volunteers and has stated “The present study also showed a highly significant increase in IA left (P < 0.001) and right (P < 0.001) which suggest improvement in general health of the participants” (6, p. 68). Thus, there are contradictory findings and interpretations of outcomes related to IA variable of GDV.
It is important to understand the actual meaning of values represented by IA variable. There are no studies which have demonstrated the direct relationship between electrons or free radicals in the body and IA variable of GDV. As per Dr. Korotkov's (the scientist who developed GDV device) research article,[4] the IA variable has been formulated as a relative measure reflecting the extent to which the GDV-gram area of a person deviates to one or the other side from an ideal model. The IA is calculated through the formula; JgS = (ln [S ÷ S1])/(ln [S'÷S1']) (where, JgS = IA coefficient, S = GDV background area, S1 = inner contour area, S' = area of ideal image, and S1' = area of the inner contour of an ideal image).[4] Further, the article states that IA can have a positive or negative value, IA being equal to zero indicates that the test image and the area of the ideal model are the same.[4] Hence, based on this equation, the IA value closer to zero indicates ideal health condition and optimum energy level. According to Korotkov, IA ranging from −0.6 to +1 is an indicator of good health condition.[7] Another study developed normative data for GDV on 880 healthy controls and found values of IA ranging from 0.2 to 0.6 (with filter) and from −0.3 to 0.4 (without filter) as an indicator of good health condition in Indian population.[8] Hence, future studies should take above evidence into account and should not interpret the IA variable based on just the direction of change (increase or decrease). The shift of mean towards the midline of the ranges given above should be considered as the positive outcome. Larger randomized controlled trials and meta-analysis are needed to confirm the trend of the effects of Yogic practices on subtle energy variables.
Acknowledgment
The authors would like to acknowledge the Department of Science and Technology, Science and Engineering Research Board, Government of India, New Delhi for funding the research work on assessing effects of Mobile Phone Induced EMF on GDV parameters.
Financial support and sponsorship
Nil.
Conflicts of interest
There are no conflicts of interest.
| References | |  |
| 1. | Deo G, Srinivasan T. Effect of anapanasati meditation technique through electrophotonic imaging parameters: Letter. Int J Yoga Philos Psychol Parapsychol 2018;6:94-5.  |
| 2. | Bhargav P, Suresh V, Hankey A, Bhargav H. Application of gas discharge visualization technique for assessing effects of mobile phoneinduced electromagnetic field on subtle energy levels of teenagers and protective value of yoga intervention. Int J Yoga Philos Psychol Parapsychol 2016;4:36-41. |
| 3. | Deo G, Itagi RK, Thaiyar MS, Kuldeep KK. Effect of anapanasati meditation technique through electrophotonic imaging parameters: A pilot study. Int J Yoga 2015;8:117-21. [ PUBMED] [Full text] |
| 4. | Kushwah KK, Srinivasan TM, Nagendra HR, Ilavarasu JV. Effect of yoga based techniques on stress and health indices using electro photonic imaging technique in managers. J Ayurveda Integr Med 2016;7:119-23. |
| 5. | Alexandrova R, Fedoseev G, Korotkov K, Philippova N, Zayzev S, Magidov M, et al. Analysis of the Bioelectrograms of Bronchial Asthma Patients. Fair Lawn, NJ, USA: Backbone Publishing Co.; 2002. p. 92-102. |
| 6. | Kushwah KK, Nagendra HR, Srinivasan TM. Effect of integrated yoga program on energy outcomes as a measure of preventive health care in healthy people. Cent Eur J Sport Sci Med 2015;12:61-71. |
| 7. | Korotkov KG. Human Energy Field: Study with GDV bioelectrography. Fair Lawn, NJ, USA: Backbone Publishing Co.; 2002. |
| 8. | Kushwah KK, Srinivasan TM, Nagendra HR, Ilavarasu JV. Development of normative data of electro photonic imaging technique for healthy population in India: A normative study. Int J Yoga 2016;9:49-56. [ PUBMED] [Full text] |
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