• Yoga and Psychophysiology
  • Autonomic Function Testing
  • Research Methodology and Scientific Communication

Brief Summary of PhD Work

The study aimed to evaluate the psychophysiological changes following two meditative states described in yoga texts. The objectives of the study were to investigate the effect of cancalata (random thinking), Ekagrata (concentration), dharana (focused meditation) and dhyana (effortless meditation) on: (i) Mid-latency auditory evoked potentials (MLAEPs), (ii) Performance in the d2 test of attention, (iii) Performance in the digit symbol substitution test (DSST), and (iv) Subjective assessment of following the guided instructions for above four mental states using visual analog scale. Sixty healthy male volunteers were studied.

The study showed an increase in the peak latency of Na and Pa waves during dhyana which suggests an increase in information processing time at the level of medial geniculate and primary auditory cortex. Following dharana, there was an improvement in performance on all measures of the d2 test of attention (TN, E, TN-E, E%, and CP) and in the digit symbol substitution test. The results suggest that, dharana is associated with better attention, incidental learning, and better accuracy. Subjective assessment about the ability to follow guided instructions showed that dharana is the most difficult state compared to the cancalata, ekagrata and dhyana states.

Academic Experience

  • Yoga Expert for the Human Ethics Committee for AYUSH and Integrative Medicine, NIMHANS, Bengaluru (2023 - 2026).
  • Member, Expert Committee, International Day of Yoga 2025 – plan for the promotion and development of yoga in higher Education Institution, constituted by UGC, New Delhi
  • University Coordinator - Shodh Shuddhi, Web-based Plagiarism Detection Software – [2021 - 2024] at S-VYASA, Bengaluru.
  • External Expert (Member) of the Board of Studies, Behavioral Sciences Division, NIMHANS, Bengaluru.
  • NAAC Criteria III (Research, Innovations and Extension) coordinator for the cycle 2016-2021 at S-VYASA, Bengaluru.
  • Member of Joint Working Group, Project Coordinator, and Academic Reviewer for the development of 16 online Yoga Credit courses by Swami Vivekananda Yoga Anusandhana Samsthana (S-VYASA), Bengaluru for the SWAYAM MOOC’s funded by AICTE, New Delhi. [2021-2023; Grant Amount: 2.16 Crore]

 

 

 

Google Scholar Profile: https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=b6zSB7UAAAAJ&hl=en

ORCID ID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3701-4142

Publications

  1. Abraham, L., Bhat, R., & George, S. (2026). Yoga as a cost-effective adjunct therapy for dry eye: clinical outcomes from a 12-week randomized controlled trial. Frontiers in Medicine, 13, 1795593.  doi: 10.3389/fmed.2026.1795593[Impact factor 3]
  2. Abraham, L., George, S., & Bhat, R. (2026). Yoga for Eye Disorders-A Systematic Review. Advances in Mind-body Medicine, 40(3), 24–31. [Indexed in: Web of Science, Scopus,]
  3. Rao NS, Bhat R and Sharma MK (2026) Effect of an eight-week yoga program on adolescents with Internet Gaming Disorder in an Indian school setting: a randomized controlled trial. Frontiers in Public Health. 14:1750580. doi: 10.3389/fpubh.2026.1750580. [Impact factor 3.4]
  4. Iyer, S., Bhat, R., Gulati, K., & Bhargav, H. (2026). Dawn vs. Dusk: Yoga practice timing shapes sleep, mood and well-being in young adults-results of a randomized controlled trial. Journal of Ayurveda and Integrative Medicine, 17(2), 101314. [Impact factor 1.9]
  5. Rao, N. S., Bhat, R., Sharma, M. K. & T L, A. M. (2025). Development, validation, and feasibility of integrated Yoga module for Internet Gaming Disorder among adolescents. Advances in Integrative Medicine, 12(3), 100486. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.AIMED.2025.100486 [[Indexed in: Web of Science, Scopus, Impact factor 1.3]
  6. Shivaram, A.C., Ilavarasu, J., Bhat, R.(2024). Sound, Touch, Form, Taste, and Smell as Pathways for Meditation – A Review of Classical and Neuroscience Texts. Journal of Applied Consciousness Studies. 12(2): 97-108. [Indexed in: UGC care]
  7. Iyer, S., Bhargav, H., Bhat, R. (2024). Ideal Time to Practice Yoga: Insights from Traditional Yoga Texts and Observations from Scientific Studies: A Narrative Review. Journal of Applied Consciousness Studies. 12(2): 82-90. [Indexed in: UGC care]
  8. Iyer, S., Bhargav, H., & Bhat, R. (2024). Understanding the Barriers to Implementing Tele-Yoga Intervention for Stress Management in Post-Graduate University Students: A Qualitative Study. Advances in Mind-body Medicine, 28(1), 9-14. [Indexed in: Scopus, UGC care]
  9. Gupta, K., Sinha, G. R., Bhat, R., Saoji, A. A., & Manjunath, N. K. (2024). Multi-resolution assessment of heart rate variability signals during yogic and normal breathing using machine learning modules. Applied Soft Computing, 164, 112020. [Indexed in: Web of Science, Scopus,] [Impact factor 7.2]
  10. Saoji, A. A., Swathi, P. S., Bhat, R., Bansal, B., Mohanty, S., & Raj Lakshmi, R. K. R. (2023). Exploring the Effect of Trataka (A Yogic Cleansing Technique) and Cold Eye Pack on Eye Strain During COVID-19 Pandemic: A Randomized Three-Arm Trial. Journal of Integrative and Complementary Medicine, 10.1089/jicm.2023.0175. Advance online publication. [Impact factor 2.6] [Indexed in: Web of Science, Scopus,]
  11. Swathi, P.S., Saoji, Apar Avinash, and Bhat, Raghavendra. (2022). The Role of Trataka in Ameliorating Visual Strain and Promoting Psychological Well-being During Prolonged Use of Digital Displays: A Randomized Controlled Trial. Work. 71(2): 327 – 333. [Impact Factor 2.3] [Indexed in: Web of Science, Scopus]
  12. Swathi, P. S., Raghavendra, B. R., & Saoji, A. A. (2021). Effect of Trataka (Yogic Visual Concentration) on the Performance in the Corsi-Block Tapping Task: A Repeated Measures Study. Frontiers in Psychology, 12, 773049-773049. [Impact Factor 3.8] [Indexed in: Web of Science, Scopus]
  13. Swathi, P. S., Raghavendra, B. R., & Saoji, A. A. (2021). Health and therapeutic benefits of Shatkarma: A narrative review of scientific studies. Journal of Ayurveda and Integrative Medicine, 12(1): 206-212. [Impact Factor 2.4] [Indexed in: Web of Science, Scopus, UGC care]
  14. Sharma, M. K., Kumar, A., Bhargav, H., Bhat, R., Anand, N., Digambhar, V., & Menaria, S. (2021). Mindfulness-based interventions: Potentials for treatment of pornography. AYUHOM, 8(2), 101-103. [Peer Reviewed]
  15. Saoji A., Raghavendra, B. R., and Manjunath, N. K. (2019). Effects of Yogic Breath Regulation: A Narrative Review of Scientific Evidence. Journal of Ayurveda and Integrative Medicine 10(1):50-58. [Impact Factor 2.4] [Indexed in: Web of Science, Scopus, UGC care]
  16. X. S. Díaz, J. Mofor, R. Bhat and R. R. (2018). Fletcher. Smart -Based Non-Contact Assessment of Human Breathing and Respiration for Diagnostic and Therapeutic Applications.  IEEE Global Humanitarian Technology Conference (GHTC), San Jose, CA, USA, 2018, pp. 1-6, doi: 10.1109/GHTC.2018.8601815. [Peer Reviewed]
  17. Saoji A., Raghavendra, B. R., and Manjunath, N. K. (2018). Additional Practice of Yoga Breathing with Intermittent Breath Holding Enhances Psychological Functions in Yoga Practitioners: A Randomized Controlled Trial. Explore (NY), 14(5):379-384. [Impact factor: 2.4] [Indexed in: Web of Science, Scopus, UGC care]
  18. Saoji A., Raghavendra, B. R., and Manjunath, N. K. (2018). Immediate Effects of Yoga Breathing with Intermittent Breath Holding on Autonomic and Cardiovascular variables Amongst Healthy Volunteers. Indian Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology, 62(1): 41-50.  [Indexed in: Web of Science, Scopus, UGC care]
  19. Saoji A., Raghavendra, B. R., and Manjunath, N. K. (2018). Immediate Effects of Yoga Breathing with Intermittent Breath Holding on Response Inhibition Amongst Healthy Volunteers. International Journal of Yoga, 11(2):99-104. [Impact factor: 1.6] [Indexed in: Web of Science, UGC care]
  20. Vinuta, H. T., Raghavendra, B. R., and Manjunath, N. K. (2015). Effect of integrated approach of yoga therapy on autonomic functions in patients with type 2 diabetes. Indian Journal of Endocrinology and Metabolism, 19(5):653-7. [Indexed in: Scopus, UGC care]
  21. Raghavendra, B. R., and Singh, P. (2015). Immediate effect of yogic visual concentration on cognitive performance. Journal of Traditional and Complementary Medicine, 6(1):34-6. [Impact Factor 4.5]. [Indexed in: Web of Science, Scopus, UGC care]
  22. Raghavendra, B. R., and Ramamurthy, V. (2014). Changes in heart rate variability following yogic visual concentration (Trataka), Heart India, 2(1):15-18. [Indexed in: Scopus, UGC care]
  23. Raghavendra, B. R and Telles, S. (2013). Performance in attentional tasks following meditative focusing and focusing without meditation. Ancient Science of Life, 32(1): 49-53. [Indexed in: Web of Science, UGC care]
  24. Raghavendra, B. R., Telles, S., Manjunath, N. K., Deepak, K. K., Naveen, K. V., and Subramanya P. (2013). Voluntary heart rate reduction following yoga using different strategies. International Journal of Yoga, 6(1):26-30. [Impact factor: 1.6] [Indexed in: Web of Science, UGC care]
  25. Telles, S., Raghavendra, B. R., Naveen, K. V., Manjunath, N. K., Kumar, S., and Subramanya  P. (2013). Changes in autonomic variables following two meditative states described in yoga texts. Journal of Alternative and Complimentary Medicine, 19(1):35-42. [Impact factor: 2.6] [Indexed in: Web of Science, Scopus, UGC care]
  26. Raghavendra, B. R. (2013). Book Review: The Science of Yoga: The Risks and the Rewards. International Journal of Yoga, 6(1):82-83. [Impact factor: 1.6] [Indexed in: Web of Science, UGC care]
  27. Kumaran, V. S., Raghavendra, B. R., and Manjunath, N. K. (2012). Influence of early rising on performance in tasks requiring attention and memory. Indian Journal of Physiology and  Pharmacology, 56(4):43-50. [Indexed in: Web of Science, Scopus, UGC care]
  28. Telles, S., Raghavendra, B. R., Naveen, K. V., Manjunath, N. K., and Subramanya  P. (2012). Mid-Latency Auditory Evoked Potentials in 2 Meditative States. Clinical EEG and Neuroscience, 43(2):154-60. [Impact factor: 2.0] [Indexed in: Web of Science, Scopus, UGC care]
  29. Telles, S., and Raghavendra, B. R. (2011). Neurophysiological Changes in Meditation Correlated with Descriptions from the Ancient Texts. Biofeedback, 39(2):56-59. [Indexed in: Web of Science, Scopus, UGC care]

Chapter in a Book

  1. Deepeshwar Singh, Raghvendra Bhat, Suhas Vinchurkar. (2023). Cognitive sensors for rehabilitation and therapeutic treatment. In  G. R. Sinha, Bidyadhar Subudhi, Chih-Peng Fan, Humaira Nisar   (Ed), Cognitive sensing technologies and applications. Institution of Engineering & Technology. ISBN:1839536896
  2. Telles, S., and Raghavendra, B. R. (2011). Yoga: Physiology and Applications in Therapy and Rehabilitation. Chapter In a book: Tandon, O. P., and Tripathi, Y. 2011. Best & Taylor’s Physiological Basis of Medical Practice, Philadelphia, U.S.A: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. ISBN-13: 978-81-8473-192-7, Ch 71: Page No: 1217-1230.
  3. Raghavendra Bhat. Science of Siddhis. Nisaropachar Varta. 2012. ISBN: 81-7182-691-1

Co-Investigator in Government Funded Project

Sl No

Title

Funding Agency

Amount

Year

1

Development of Quantitative Assessment tool for evaluation of Pranayama: A Pilot Study

DST - SATYAM Govt. of India

12,01,792

2026-2027

 

Co-Investigator in other Research Projects 

• International collaborative project with Prof Rich Fletcher, MIT D-Lab, MIT, USA.  [2017-2018]

Project Title: Smart -Based Non-Contact Assessment of Human Breathing and Respiration for Diagnostic and Therapeutic Applications.

 

Principal Investigator in Intramural Funded Research Projects 

 

Sl No

Title

Amount

Investigator

Name

Status

1

Psychophysiological changes associated with trataka (yogic visual

concentration)

5,376

Dr Raghavendra

Bhat

Completed

2

Neurocognitive                and

psychophysiological changes associated with kumbhaka – yogic breath

holding

15,518

Dr Raghavendra

Bhat

 

Completed

 

 

 

 

Consulting Research Projects 

 Sl

No

Title

Investigator

Name

Funding Agency

Year

1

A comparison of high frequency yoga breathing (HFYB) with breath awareness (BAW) and aerobic exercise assessing gamma oscillation, BDNF levels and

Cognitive task performance 

Dr

Deepeshwar

Singh

DST, SERB,

New Delhi

 

 

2018-2020

2

Cerebral autoregulation and sympathetic nervous system activity (SNS) while performing cognitive tasks during yoga practice which have different effects on SNS

Dr

Deepeshwar

Singh

DST, SERB

New Delhi

 

 

2015-2018

3

Efficacy of Yoga-based Lifestyle Intervention on Acute-phase

Insulin Release (AIR) in Pre-diabetes

Dr Ramesh M N

Ministry of AYUSH, Govt. of India, New Delhi

2017-2019

4

Effect Of Yoga In Gene Expression And Telomere Biology In

Extreme Climatic Conditions

Dr Ramesh M N

DIPAS  DRDO, New Delhi

2015-2017

Attended

Sl

No

Title of the talk

Invited by / Details 

Date

1

Impact of Meditation on Health and Disease: A Neurobiological and Clinical Perspective

CME Workshop at, 81st Annual Conference of Association Physicians of India - 2026, Patna, Bihar

January 29, 2026

2

Empowered Teaching, Enriched Learning: Yoga for Educator Wellness and Student Personality Development

15 days Professional Training on 

Pedagogy and Modern Technology Tools organized by IEEE APS Jaipur Chapter

June 27, 2025

 

3

Healing Through Harmony:​
The Evolution of Yoga from Spiritual Discipline to Clinical Therapy

Yoga CME organized by

Association of Physicians of India

Indian College of Physician

 

May 18, 2025

 

4

Science of Meditation

National Seminar organized by Department of Yoga, Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar University

(A Central University), Lucknow

June 16, 2024

5

Research Study Design

Workshop on ‘Research Methodology and Instrumentation for Post graduate students in Naturopathy and Yoga’ organized by Department of Research, SDMCNYS, Ujire

April 06, 2024

6

Research Methodology Orientation Program

Internal Quality Assurance Cell (IQAC), S-VYASA, Bengaluru

August 31, 2023 – September 2, 2023

7

Science of Yoga

National Seminar on Yoga

Organized by Department of

Physical Education and Sports,

Central University of Tamil

Nadu, Thiruvarur

June 30, 2023

8

Data Visualization using R [ggpur package]

Continuing Research Education

(CRE) – 24th INCOFYRA – May 26 – 29, 2022

May 24, 2022

9

Use of Reference Manager tools in Research

Continuing Research Education

(CRE) program organized by SVYASA under A Center for

Excellence, Ministry of

AYUSH, Govt. of India

July 31, 2021

10

Yoga as a preventive strategy for Covid-19

IDY Webinar, SGT University, Gurugram, Delhi-NCR

June 19, 2020

11

Neurophysiological correlates of phases of wakefulness and

sleep in meditators: An out

come of ICMR CAR-Y & N

International Conference on Yoga for Health and Therapy organized by Patanjali research

Foundation, Haridwar

March 29 – 31, 2019

12

Encouraging scientific writing and publications among postgraduate students

Seminar organized by

Healthminds, at V.K.Institute of

Dental Sciences, KAHER,

Belagavi

March 12, 2019

13

Research Methodology and

Statistics with R

5 day workshop on Research

Methodology and Statistics with

R organized by S-VYASA,

Bengaluru

July 9-13, 2018

14

Yoga as Medicine: Concept and Evidence Summary 

Adichunchanagiri Institute of

Medical Sciences, Nagamangala

June 30, 2018

15

Workplace Wellness through Yoga

LPSC, ISRO, Bengaluru

June 21, 2018

16

Concept and Basis of Yoga Therapy 

73rd Annual Conference APICON 2018, Bengaluru

Feb 23, 2018

17

Introduction to Astanga Yoga 

Dept of AYUSH, Port Blair, Andaman &Nicobar Islands

Jun 9, 2016

18

Psychophysiology of yoga and its’ applications

Physiology CME cum

Workshop – Adichunchanagiri

Institute of Medical Sciences,

Nagamangala

Aug 19, 2015

19

An Overview of Yoga Research

Vivekananda Yoga, Shanghai, China 

Jul 20, 2015

 

Organized

International

  • Presented paper titled “Physiological Effects of Two Meditative States Described in Yoga Texts” at Third World Congress of Asian Psychiatry at Melbourne, Australia, July 31 - August 4, 2011

National

  • Presented paper titled “State Anxiety, Mindfulness and Heart Rate Variability Dynamics in Healthy Adults” at 22nd International Conference on Frontiers in Yoga Research and Its Applications [INCOFYRA]: Integrative Oncology - future of Cancer care.  January 5 - 8, 2018, organized by S-VYASA, Bengaluru
  • Presented paper in Health Tech Innovations 2015, organized by SAMEER under the aegis of Deity in technical collaboration with NHSRC and ICMR on January 9 - 10, 2015 at IIT Bombay. [paper title: Breath sensor: a tool to assess ultradian rhythm]
  • Presented paper titled “Immediate Effect of Trataka on Performance in Stroop Color Word Test” at 20th International Conference on Frontiers in Yoga Research and Its Applications [INCOFYRA]:Yoga - A Public Health Strategy for Diabetes Prevention and Education.

Jan 2 – 5, 2014, organized by S-VYASA, Bengaluru

  • Paper entitled “Physiological effects of two meditative states described in yoga texts” awarded as best paper at poster session in the First International Conference on Yoga for Health & Social Transformation, January 2-5, 2011, Haridwar, India.
  • Paper entitled “Voluntary heart rate reduction following yoga using different strategies” awarded as second best paper at the oral presentation in the 17th International Conference on Frontiers in Yoga Research and its Applications – ‘Yoga, its Underlying mechanisms’.

Between December 20 - 23, 2007, Bengaluru.

 

 

 

 

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