Effect of QiGong on brain function

QiGong is an ancient and widely practiced Chinese meditation exercise. In the sense of traditional Chinese medicine, 'Qi' denotes invisible energy, whereas 'Gong' refers to the level of accomplishment in an area of endeavor1. In the present study we analyzed effects of QiGong on brain function with modern biomedical neuromonitoring equipment in two persons. One was a well-known 58-year-old male QiGong master with more than 20 years of experience, the other was a 47-year-old longterm female practitioner of QiGong (Figure IA,B). MATERIALS AND METHODS Brain function during QiGong was monitored with a number of continuous noninvasive modalities. Transcranial Doppler sonography (TCD) was performed simultaneously in the left middle cerebral artery (MCA) and the right posterior cerebral artery (PCA) with a Multi Dop T (DWL Electronic Systems GmbH, Sipplingen, Germany). The MCA was assessed at a depth of 50 mm and the PCA at a depth of 67 mm. Mean blood flow velocity (vm) was calculated from the Doppler frequency spectrum. TCD signals were measured continuously and changes in flow profiles during the different phases of QiGong were documented and analyzed graphically and numerically. Near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) is a noninvasive method to evaluate oxygenation in cerebral tissue through the intact skull. The noninvasive aspect couldÿÿ