Samani C. Pragya
Current Organizations / Institutes
The organizations/institutes from the scholar's latest article
Research Subjects
Samani C. Pragya has a total of 10 co-authors. Here are the top co-authors by number of shared publications:
- Amanda Young
Institute for Simulation and Training, University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL 32765, USA
1 shared publication - Bassam Abomoelak
Arnold Palmer Pediatric Gastroenterology Clinic, Orlando Health, Orlando, FL 32806, USA
1 shared publication - Devendra Indulal Mehta
Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children, Orlando Health, Orlando, FL 32806, USA
1 shared publication - Naina Mehta
Neurodevelopmental Pediatrician, Behavioral and Developmental Center, Orlando Health, Orlando, FL 32805, USA
1 shared publication - Neelam D. Mehta
Sidney Kimmel Medical College, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA 19107, USA
1 shared publication - Parvin Uddin
College of Arts, Sciences and Education, Florida International University, Miami, FL 33199, USA
1 shared publication
Latest Publications
- Open Access
- 17 August 2023
- Published by MDPI AG in Brain Sciences
- Vol. 13 (8) , 1214
Cognitive Skills and DNA Methylation Are Correlating in Healthy and Novice College Students Practicing Preksha Dhyāna Meditation
The impact of different meditation protocols on human health is explored at the cognitive and cellular levels. Preksha Dhyana meditation has been observed to seemingly affect the cognitive performance, transcriptome, and methylome of healthy and novice participant practitioners. In this study, we performed correlation analyses to investigate the presence of any relationships in the changes in cognitive performance and DNA methylation in a group of college students practicing Preksha Dhyāna (N = 34). Nine factors of cognitive performance were assessed at baseline and 8 weeks postintervention timepoints in the participants. Statistically significant improvements were observed in six of the nine assessments, which were predominantly relating to memory and affect. Using Illumina 850 K microarray technology, 470 differentially methylated sites (DMS) were identified between the two timepoints (baseline and 8 weeks), using a threshold of p-value < 0.05 and methylation levels beyond −3% to 3% at every site. Correlation analysis between the changes in performance on each of the nine assessments and every DMS unveiled statistically significant positive and negative relationships at several of these sites. The identified DMS were in proximity of essential genes involved in signaling and other important metabolic processes. Interestingly, we identified a set of sites that can be considered as biomarkers for Preksha meditation improvements at the genome level.
- 17 August 2023
- Published by MDPI AG in Brain Sciences
- Vol. 13 (8) , 1214
Open AccessCognitive Skills and DNA Methylation Are Correlating in Healthy and Novice College Students Practicing Preksha Dhyāna Meditation
The impact of different meditation protocols on human health is explored at the cognitive and cellular levels. Preksha Dhyana meditation has been observed to seemingly affect the cognitive performance, transcriptome, and methylome of healthy and novice participant practitioners. In this study, we performed correlation analyses to investigate the presence of any relationships in the changes in cognitive performance and DNA methylation in a group of college students practicing Preksha Dhyāna (N = 34). Nine factors of cognitive performance were assessed at baseline and 8 weeks postintervention timepoints in the participants. Statistically significant improvements were observed in six of the nine assessments, which were predominantly relating to memory and affect. Using Illumina 850 K microarray technology, 470 differentially methylated sites (DMS) were identified between the two timepoints (baseline and 8 weeks), using a threshold of p-value < 0.05 and methylation levels beyond −3% to 3% at every site. Correlation analysis between the changes in performance on each of the nine assessments and every DMS unveiled statistically significant positive and negative relationships at several of these sites. The identified DMS were in proximity of essential genes involved in signaling and other important metabolic processes. Interestingly, we identified a set of sites that can be considered as biomarkers for Preksha meditation improvements at the genome level.