HealthySPANDHANCT07903688
Meditation and Yogic Breathing-driven Modulation of Neurofluid Coupling and Brain Clearance
A study testing Nadi Shuddhi and Shoonya Meditation in people with Healthy, run by Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center at 1 site in United States.
Trial summary
This study will examine whether meditation and yogic breathing can alter brain fluid movement and waste clearance in healthy adults. It will also evaluate the GLYMPHOMETER, a new external forehead-worn device designed to objectively measure changes in brain fluid movement and exchange during meditation. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 25 to 60 yearsHealthy volunteers can take part
- Conditions the study is for
- Healthy
- What is being tested?
- Nadi Shuddhi and Shoonya Meditation
- Type of treatment
- Lifestyle or therapy programme
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 120 participants
- Where
- 1 siteUnited States
- Study dates
- 16 Nov 2026to 30 Apr 2028
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- Not yet: the study is under way
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 25 to 60 years
- All sexes
- Healthy volunteers accepted
- Adult
Who may be able to join
- Healthy adults, 25-60 years old.
- Novice or Advanced as defined above.
- Fluent in English.
- Able to travel to BIDMC site for two days approximately 3-7 days apart.
Who cannot join
- History of neurological and/or neurodegenerative disorders (e.g., epilepsy, stroke, mild cognitive impairment, dementia)
- History of cardiovascular and respiratory illnesses
- History of major psychiatric disorders (e.g., schizophrenia, bipolar disorder)
- Currently diagnosed mental health issues (e.g., anxiety, depression)
- Current use of psychoactive medications, including medications prescribed for anxiety, depression, or other psychiatric conditions, or current use of stimulants or other medications that may substantially affect central nervous system function or study outcomes.
- Skin ailments, abrasions or contusions, particularly located on the forehead and face
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.
United States1 site
BIDMC
Boston, Massachusetts, 02215
Deepthi R Johal, PhD, 8574263244, drajashe@bidmc.harvard.edu
About this study
This study will examine whether meditation and yogic breathing can alter brain fluid movement and waste clearance in healthy adults. It will also evaluate the GLYMPHOMETER, a new external forehead-worn device designed to objectively measure changes in brain fluid movement and exchange during meditation.
Read the detailed description
The glymphatic system is a brain waste-clearance pathway that facilitates the movement of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and interstitial fluid and is thought to play an important role in maintaining brain homeostasis. Emerging evidence suggests that respiration, autonomic activity, and changes in cerebral blood flow may influence CSF dynamics and related neurofluid processes. However, the effects of voluntary breathing practices and meditation on these physiological mechanisms in humans remain incompletely understood.
The SPANDHA study will investigate whether structured yogic breathing (Pranayama; specifically Nadi Shuddhi) and/or meditation (Shoonya meditation) are associated with changes in neurofluid dynamics and related physiological measures. The study will use the GLYMPHOMETER, a forehead-mounted multimodal device designed to measure physiological signals associated with neurofluid coupling during naturalistic meditation and breathing practices. The system incorporates multi-wavelength electroencephalography (EEG) and near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) to characterize changes in cerebral electrical activity, cerebral hemodynamics, and neurofluid-related dynamics while participants engage in the interventions.
The study will enroll approximately 100 participants, including 50 novice and 50 experienced practitioners. Using a 2-sequence crossover, participants will complete two study visits involving meditation and yogic breathing conditions. The study will evaluate changes in measures of neurofluid dynamics, cerebral compliance, autonomic regulation including heart-rate variability (HRV), and EEG-derived brain states associated with the interventions. Participants will be stratified by experience level (novice/advance) and randomized within each stratum to one of the two intervention sequences.
A subset of participants will undergo additional validation assessments using phase-contrast magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and blood-based biomarkers. These assessments will be used to examine the relationship between measurements obtained with the GLYMPHOMETER and established measures of CSF and cerebrovascular physiology.
The primary objective of the study is to characterize the acute physiological effects of meditation and yogic breathing on neurofluid dynamics and related brain and autonomic measures. The findings may provide preliminary evidence regarding the feasibility of using voluntary breathing and meditation practices to modulate physiological processes associated with glymphatic function and may inform future studies of non-pharmacological approaches to brain health.
- Conditions
- Healthy
- Being tested
- Nadi Shuddhi, Shoonya Meditation
- Keywords
- Shoonya, Glymphometer, neurofluidics
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Nadi ShuddhiBehavioural
Nadi Shuddhi is a structured yogic breathing practice involving slow, alternating respiration through the left and right nostrils in a prescribed sequence.
Shoonya MeditationBehavioural
Shoonya meditation is a structured contemplative practice characterized by conscious non-doing, in which participants maintain a relaxed, alert state while minimizing deliberate attentional selection, cognitive elaboration, and engagement with internal or external stimuli.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Novice Meditators | Active comparator | Less than 1 year of consistent meditation practice. Receives: Behavioral: Nadi Shuddhi; Behavioral: Shoonya Meditation |
| Advanced Meditators | Active comparator | More than 5 years or a minimum of 2500 hours of consistent meditation practice Receives: Behavioral: Nadi Shuddhi; Behavioral: Shoonya Meditation |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Acquisition of physiological data using the GLYMPHOMETER during meditation and yogic breathing sessions.
Participants meeting threshold for analyzable device recordings.
Measured: At each study visit while the meditation is being practiced. Expected acquisition window: 20 minutes; Total number of visits: 2
Secondary outcomes (3)
Neurofluid-related physiological measures during Shoonya meditation and Nadi Shuddhi breathing.
Changes in GLYMPHOMETER-derived measures of neurofluid coupling, during Shoonya meditation and Nadi Shuddhi breathing.
(Measurement device: Glymphometer; Measure: Neurofluid coupling aka Fluid dynamics in brain)
Measured: At each study visit while the meditation is being practiced. Expected acquisition window: 20 minutes; Total number of visits: 2
Autonomic regulation during Shoonya meditation and Nadi Shuddhi breathing.
Changes in heart-rate variability (HRV) during Shoonya meditation and Nadi Shuddhi breathing.
Measured: At each study visit while the meditation is being practiced. Expected acquisition window: 20 minutes; Total number of visits: 2
Very-low-frequency physiological signal characteristics
Changes in predefined very-low-frequency (0.001-0.1 Hz) signal characteristics derived from GLYMPHOMETER medical™ recordings and their relationship to neurofluid-related measures.
Measured: At each study visit while the meditation is being practiced. Expected acquisition window: 20 minutes; Total number of visits: 2
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted29 Oct 2026
- Study start16 Nov 2026 (estimated)
- Primary completion30 Nov 2027 (estimated)
- Study completion30 Apr 2028 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for HealthyStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- More trials run by Beth Israel Deaconess Medical CenterThe sponsor's other registered studies.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Other
- Allocation
- Non-randomised
- Intervention model
- Crossover
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Enrolment
- 120 participants (estimated)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Balachundhar Subramaniam, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07903688
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- 2026P000655
- Other IDs
- GRT69415
- Acronym
- SPANDHA
- Status last verified
- Sep 2026
- First submitted
- 15 Sep 2026
- Last updated
- 29 Oct 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- Undecided
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 29 Oct 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Meditation and Yogic Breathing-driven Modulation of Neurofluid Coupling and Brain Clearance
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07903688
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- SPANDHA / 2026P000655
- Conditions
- Healthy
- Keywords
- Shoonya, Glymphometer, neurofluidics
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Not yet recruiting
- Enrolment
- 120 participants (estimated)
- Lead sponsor
- Beth Israel Deaconess Medical CenterUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 16 Nov 2026 (estimated)
- Primary completion
- 30 Nov 2027 (estimated)
- Study completion
- 30 Apr 2028 (estimated)
- First posted
- 29 Oct 2026 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
This study will examine whether meditation and yogic breathing can alter brain fluid movement and waste clearance in healthy adults. It will also evaluate the GLYMPHOMETER, a new external forehead-worn device designed to objectively measure changes in brain fluid movement and exchange during meditation.
Detailed description
The glymphatic system is a brain waste-clearance pathway that facilitates the movement of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and interstitial fluid and is thought to play an important role in maintaining brain homeostasis. Emerging evidence suggests that respiration, autonomic activity, and changes in cerebral blood flow may influence CSF dynamics and related neurofluid processes. However, the effects of voluntary breathing practices and meditation on these physiological mechanisms in humans remain incompletely understood.
The SPANDHA study will investigate whether structured yogic breathing (Pranayama; specifically Nadi Shuddhi) and/or meditation (Shoonya meditation) are associated with changes in neurofluid dynamics and related physiological measures. The study will use the GLYMPHOMETER, a forehead-mounted multimodal device designed to measure physiological signals associated with neurofluid coupling during naturalistic meditation and breathing practices. The system incorporates multi-wavelength electroencephalography (EEG) and near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) to characterize changes in cerebral electrical activity, cerebral hemodynamics, and neurofluid-related dynamics while participants engage in the interventions.
The study will enroll approximately 100 participants, including 50 novice and 50 experienced practitioners. Using a 2-sequence crossover, participants will complete two study visits involving meditation and yogic breathing conditions. The study will evaluate changes in measures of neurofluid dynamics, cerebral compliance, autonomic regulation including heart-rate variability (HRV), and EEG-derived brain states associated with the interventions. Participants will be stratified by experience level (novice/advance) and randomized within each stratum to one of the two intervention sequences.
A subset of participants will undergo additional validation assessments using phase-contrast magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and blood-based biomarkers. These assessments will be used to examine the relationship between measurements obtained with the GLYMPHOMETER and established measures of CSF and cerebrovascular physiology.
The primary objective of the study is to characterize the acute physiological effects of meditation and yogic breathing on neurofluid dynamics and related brain and autonomic measures. The findings may provide preliminary evidence regarding the feasibility of using voluntary breathing and meditation practices to modulate physiological processes associated with glymphatic function and may inform future studies of non-pharmacological approaches to brain health.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Other
- Allocation
- Non-randomised
- Intervention model
- Crossover
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Number of arms
- 2
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Novice Meditators | Active comparator | Behavioral: Nadi Shuddhi, Behavioral: Shoonya MeditationLess than 1 year of consistent meditation practice. |
| Advanced Meditators | Active comparator | Behavioral: Nadi Shuddhi, Behavioral: Shoonya MeditationMore than 5 years or a minimum of 2500 hours of consistent meditation practice |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 25 to 60 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Accepted
- Age groups
- Adult
Key inclusion criteria (4 listed)
- Healthy adults, 25-60 years old.
- Novice or Advanced as defined above.
- Fluent in English.
- Able to travel to BIDMC site for two days approximately 3-7 days apart.
Key exclusion criteria (6 listed)
- History of neurological and/or neurodegenerative disorders (e.g., epilepsy, stroke, mild cognitive impairment, dementia)
- History of cardiovascular and respiratory illnesses
- History of major psychiatric disorders (e.g., schizophrenia, bipolar disorder)
- Currently diagnosed mental health issues (e.g., anxiety, depression)
- Current use of psychoactive medications, including medications prescribed for anxiety, depression, or other psychiatric conditions, or current use of stimulants or other medications that may substantially affect central nervous system function or study outcomes.
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| Nadi ShuddhiNadi Shuddhi is a structured yogic breathing practice involving slow, alternating respiration through the left and right nostrils in a prescribed sequence. | Behavioural | Advanced Meditators, Novice Meditators |
| Shoonya MeditationShoonya meditation is a structured contemplative practice characterized by conscious non-doing, in which participants maintain a relaxed, alert state while minimizing deliberate attentional selection, cognitive elaboration, and engagement with internal or external stimuli. | Behavioural | Advanced Meditators, Novice Meditators |
Primary outcome
Acquisition of physiological data using the GLYMPHOMETER during meditation and yogic breathing sessions.
Time frame: At each study visit while the meditation is being practiced. Expected acquisition window: 20 minutes; Total number of visits: 2
Participants meeting threshold for analyzable device recordings.
3 secondary outcomes
Neurofluid-related physiological measures during Shoonya meditation and Nadi Shuddhi breathing.
Time frame: At each study visit while the meditation is being practiced. Expected acquisition window: 20 minutes; Total number of visits: 2
Autonomic regulation during Shoonya meditation and Nadi Shuddhi breathing.
Time frame: At each study visit while the meditation is being practiced. Expected acquisition window: 20 minutes; Total number of visits: 2
Very-low-frequency physiological signal characteristics
Time frame: At each study visit while the meditation is being practiced. Expected acquisition window: 20 minutes; Total number of visits: 2
Results and safety
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 29 Oct 2026.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: Undecided
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part.
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Nadi Shuddhi and Shoonya Meditation in people with Healthy, run by Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center at 1 site in United States.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 4 inclusion and 6 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: opening soon, as of the sponsor's last update on 29 Oct 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in United States. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
Contact Balachundhar Subramaniam, MD MPH ((781) 472-0572, bsubrama@bidmc.harvard.edu), or a site near the patient. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Acquisition of physiological data using the GLYMPHOMETER during meditation and yogic breathing sessions. (time frame: At each study visit while the meditation is being practiced. Expected acquisition window: 20 minutes; Total number of visits: 2). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 29 Oct 2026.