Tong Zhang

Although there have been reports on changes in breathing and brain blood volume during Qigong, the relationship between them was not clear. In this study, the relationship between the total hemoglobin concentration of the cerebral cortex and breathing of six Qigong trainers during Qigong was analyzed. As a result, there was no correlation between the brain blood volume and the amount of breath per minute. It is suggested that the brain blood volume of Qigong trainers changed by consciousness activities of the Qi-emission task, and not by breathing.

Hemoglobin concentration change of cerebral cortex during Qigong has been studied by the relatively new technique multi-channel near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS). We measured concentration change for six Qigong experts and twelve normal controllers using NIRS instruments from two makers. We analyzed the left frontal area (Fpl) and found the oxygenated hemoglobin and total hemoglobin concentrations of cerebral cortex during Qi-emission task were of two types, compared to the control task. Both concentrations had statistically significant increase (p<0.01) for three Qigong experts and decrease (p<0.01, both concentrations) for three others. Moreover, there was statistical significance (p<0.01, both concentrations) between Qigong experts and normal controllers. These results agreed with results of a previous report that observed and analyzed the right frontal area (Fp2). One Qigong expert also showed a strong correlation (r=0.94) between oxygenated hemoglobin concentration change and respiration frequency during a Qi-emission task. The specialized breath control could influence blood volume of the cerebral cortex.

In the physiological measurement studies of Qigong, there is no analytical research either on the skin surface temperature of thenar eminence of the qi-emission hand, or on the correlation between thenar eminence and central portion of forehead. For the present report, skin surface temperature changes of the hand and central portion of forehead during the qi-emission task by an expert, who has been practicing Qigong for about 40 years, were measured and analyzed. Consequently, it was discovered that there was a significant difference (p<0.01) and a strong negative correlation (r=-0.91) between central portion of forehead and thenar eminence of the qi-emission hand. However, no significant difference and correlation were seen between right-and-left laogong. Moreover, as a result of comparing the average temperature slope for one minute in the middle of the qi-emission task and comparison task period, there was a significant difference in the right thenar eminence (p<0.05) and central portion of forehead (p<0.001), and no significant difference in first finger, right and left laogong where considered as a region emitting qi.

This is a part of the report on basic pilot experimental researches on external "qi" or "ki", healing and telepathy in the Bio-Emission Laboratory, National Institute of Radiological Sciences (NIRS), in Japan. Qi/ki is a basic concept towards life within oriental philosophy and is a subtle energy. Some qigong masters (sender) cause body movements in others (receivers) or cure diseases without any physical contact. These masters claim that they use qi/ki. However, it is considered that suggestion must be involved. The purpose of these researches is to evaluate whether or not there is something other than suggestion. The authors carried out scientific experiments using double blinded and randomized conditions and statistical analysis. Experiments in Toh-ate: Toh-ate is a Japanese martial arts skill used to attack a person (receiver) who is at a distance of several meters from the attacker (sender). When the sender applies Toh-ate, the receiver steps back rapidly without any physical contact. In the experiment, the sender and a receiver were separated in different rooms. The time difference between the sender's motion of qi-emission and the receiver's recoil response and physiological parameters were measured. The result on a pair of sender and receiver shows 1% statistical significance in the time coincidence. Other pairs show interesting results. Experiment of perception of qi transfer: In this experiment, it was shown that a receiver even in a sensory-shielded state perceived qi sent from a qigong master. The difference in EEG alpha-wave intensity of the receiver is significant between qi sending and non-sending times. Experiment on cultured human cells: It is shown that the number of formed colonies after exposure to X-rays which were healed by external qi was double that of the control. These results show the possibility that there are some other effects than just suggestion.

EEG analysis was used to study about the brain condition during various meditations. Main subjects of this study were a male and a female practitioner who practiced meditation as their daily work. Comparisons were made with Zen priests, qigong masters, transcendental meditation (TM) practitioners and Japanese incense masters, whose EEGs have been previously measured by the authors. EEG was judged as being a capable indicator to estimate the brain condition during meditation: i.e. (1) relaxation degree was estimated by effective α amplitude on the occipital area; (2) variation of images, by changes in α. frequency; (3) degree of the altered state of consciousness, by the ratio of the frontal/occipital α amplitude; (4) concentration degree, by the lag time of the α. phase between the frontal and occipital areas; and (5) an activation rate of the verbal or imagery site, by the ratio of right/left occipital α amplitude.