Maya Kumari
Class of 2030Gilroy, California
About
Hello! My name is Maya Kumari, and I am an aspiring neuroscientist fascinated by a simple question: What is actually happening inside our brain when we change the way we breathe? That curiosity led me to my project, **“Quantitative EEG Analysis of Brain Activity Before, During, and After Nadi Shodhana Pranayama.”** Using wearable EEG technology and a custom Python-based analysis pipeline, I am investigating how this controlled breathing practice influences different patterns of brain-wave activity. What excites me most about this research is the opportunity to connect an ancient practice with modern neuroscience and measurable data. I hope to share my findings with researchers and professors in neuroscience, as well as with yoga communities in India and beyond, and contribute to a scientific understanding of yoga as a practice for health, balance, and wellbeing.Projects
- "Quantitative EEG Analysis of Brain Activity Before, During, and After Nadi Shodhana Pranayama" with mentor Sierra (Aug. 3, 2026)
Project Portfolio
Quantitative EEG Analysis of Brain Activity Before, During, and After Nadi Shodhana Pranayama
Started Oct. 27, 2025
Abstract or project description
Nadi Shodhana Pranayama, or alternate nostril breathing, is a yogic breathing technique believed to regulate the autonomic nervous system and improve attention. While previous studies have examined its neurophysiological effects, many rely on long-term interventions or do not include regional brain comparisons and effect-size analysis. This study evaluated the effects of a single Nadi Shodhana session on EEG brain-wave activity by analyzing Delta (0.5–4 Hz), Theta (4–8 Hz), Alpha (8–12 Hz), Beta (12–30 Hz), and Gamma (30–45 Hz) frequency bands. EEG data were collected from twelve participants (ten analyzed after signal-quality exclusions) using a wearable Muse-S headband before, during, and after practice. A custom Python pipeline using Welch power spectral density analysis quantified changes in relative band power. Results showed increased Theta and Delta activity during practice, accompanied by significant decreases in Beta and Gamma activity. Alpha power increased from 23.2% at baseline to 25.9% after practice (Cohen's d = 0.82). Despite individual variability, regional analyses demonstrated a consistent shift toward a relaxed yet attentive brain state, supporting wearable EEG as a practical tool for quantifying the neurophysiological effects of yogic breathing.