Repetitive speech elicits widespread deactivation in the human cortex: the "Mantra" effect?
Brain and Behavior July 1, 2015 Aviva Berkovich-Ohana, Meytal Wilf, Roni Kahana et al.
Repeating a single word silently for a short period reduces brain activity broadly, especially in the default mode network, which is linked to self-related thoughts. This reduction occurred without the usual compensatory increase in other brain networks. A behavioral test confirmed that participants experienced fewer spontaneous thoughts during the repetition task compared to rest. The findings suggest that simple repetitive speech can trigger a global inhibitory effect in the brain, which may explain the calming effects reported in mantra meditation practices.