Independent Component Analysis of EEG Signals and Real Time Data Acquisition Using MyDAQ and Labview

Electroencephalography is the recording of electrical activity along the scalp of a person. This allows us to measure brain activity involved in various types of cognitive functions. Experimental goal of this work is to interpret and characterize the EEG activity during Pranayama breathing with respect to temporal and spatial context, and acquire two channel data using MyDAQ and Labview. This work primarily explores the variation in the EEG wave pattern during different stages of Pranayama as well as the variation of alpha wave level in the left and right frontal, temporal parietal and occipital regions of the brain. Statistical significance test is performed for different cycles of Pranayama to measure the significant change in the alpha power with respect to baseline measures. An effort was made to analyze the difference in the cerebral electrical activity among long term and short term meditation practitioners. Data was recorded for ten subjects during three cycles of Pranayama, each cycle lasting for two minutes. In order to measure the effects towards the end of Pranayama, the last 20 seconds of EEG data were analyzed in each cycle of Pranayama. The analysis revealed that 40 % of the subjects were relaxed (means increase in alpha power) as well as alert (means increase in beta power) at the end of Pranayama, whereas 30% of the subjects showed decrease in beta power. Also, 10% showed increase in beta power for only one cycle. Therefore, one may conclude that the practice of Pranayama enhances relaxation and cognition, leading the practitioners to a stress free and healthy life.