Our research explore the neurophysiological correlates of religious chanting using multimodal neuroimaging techniques. We aim to uncover the brain region and the neural processes involved in repetitive religious chanting and how they differ from non-religious chanting and resting state. Recent studies have began to investigate the effect of various meditative and religious practices on the brain using advanced neuroimaging methods.
These developments have shed lights on the neural mechanisms underlying the potential therapeutic benefits of such practices. Our study combine high-density electroencephalogram, EEG, functional magnetic resonance imaging, fMRI, and physiological measures like electrocardiogram, ECG. This cutting-edge neuroimaging and electrophysiological technologies has enabled us to capture the dynamic neural and bodily changes associated with religious chanting in great detail.
Although religious chantings and prayers are extremely popular in both eastern and western cultures, spanning ancient to modern times, there is a scarcity of scientific research on this topic. Our research addresses this research gap and uncover potential applications of religious chanting in the context of psychological counseling. Compared to single-modality techniques, our protocol uses fMRI and eigenvector centrality mapping to guide EEG source localization, therefore enhancing spatial accuracy.
In addition, measuring heart rate variability alongside with brain activity provides a more comprehensive understanding of religious chanting's effect on stress reduction and cardiovascular stability.
