Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)
November 30, 2022
Calixto Machado, Andrew B. Newberg, Yanín Machado et al.
1 citation
Remembering near-death experiences and mystical experiences produces significant functional changes in the autonomic nervous system, as measured by heart rate variability. Using continuous electroencephalography with electrocardiogram monitoring, researchers compared the memories of two groups of participants. The method allowed continuous assessment of heart rate and heart rate variability during recall. The findings demonstrate that both types of experiences are associated with measurable autonomic shifts, confirming earlier reports of such changes.
World Journal of Advanced Research and Reviews
March 30, 2024
Yanín Machado, Mauricio Chinchilla, Robert Hesse et al.
Contemplative prayer (CP) may improve depression in bipolar disorder (BD) patients. In a small study, five BD patients and five normal subjects, all believing in God, were medication-free during depressive episodes. A stable frontal alpha asymmetry QEEG pattern was observed in all patients. After CP, the focal left frontal alpha increment disappeared, suggesting CP reorganizes brain network interactions in the prefrontal cortex that support cognition-emotion interplay. The authors conclude CP is a promising tool for treating depression.
World Journal of Advanced Research and Reviews
November 11, 2022
Calixto Machado, Andrew B. Newberg, Yanín Machado et al.
Continuous EEG monitoring (CEEG) revealed increased brain activity while individuals recalled near-death experiences (NDE) and spiritual contemplative experiences (SCE). The amplitude of the CEEG envelope increased during both types of recall, with a greater increase for SCE, particularly in the frontal lobes. Statistical increments in absolute power for alpha and gamma brainwave bands occurred during both NDE and SCE recall. The authors conclude that CEEG is a useful method for continuously assessing dynamic brain changes during these experiences.
World journal of critical care medicine
September 9, 2025
Calixto Machado
The Jahi McMath case, in which a girl was declared brain dead in 2013 after surgical complications, prompted a reevaluation of brain death and disorders of consciousness. Advanced ancillary tests, including neuroimaging and heart rate variability assessments, revealed significant preservation of intracranial structures, including the upper brainstem, despite extensive white matter damage. Residual cognitive processing and autonomic responses were identified, suggesting a novel disorder of consciousness distinct from brain death, unresponsive wakefulness syndrome, minimally conscious state, and locked-in syndrome. These findings, supported by video analysis of purposeful responses, challenged conventional definitions and highlighted the need for advanced diagnostics and a nuanced understanding of consciousness.
World Journal of Advanced Research and Reviews
January 30, 2025
Yanín Machado, Mauricio Chinchilla, Calixto Machado et al.
Centering praying (CP) appears to help manage post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in female sexual assault survivors. In a small randomized controlled trial, five women with PTSD due to sexual abuse or rape received CP treatment, while five matched controls did not. After treatment, patients showed significant improvement on the PTSD Checklist for DSM-5 and the Patient Health Questionnaire-9. Quantitative electroencephalography revealed a stable increase in theta activity (4–8 Hz) in the left parietal-temporal-occipital areas, which progressively decreased toward normal as treatment continued. The authors conclude that CP offers a distinct, accessible pathway for promoting emotional regulation and resilience rooted in spirituality.
World Journal of Advanced Research and Reviews
November 30, 2022
Calixto Machado, Andrew B. Newberg, Yanín Machado et al.
Memories of near-death experiences (NDE) and spiritual contemplative experiences (SCE) show similar brain activation patterns in delta, alpha, and gamma bands, along with frontal lobe activation, as measured by quantitative electroencephalography tomography. The Greyson Scale evaluation indicates a correlation between the attributes of NDE and SCE, such as cognitive timelessness, affective peace, transcendent oneness, and out-of-body sensations. SCE subjects exhibited statistically greater brain activation than NDE subjects. The study used QEEGt methodology, which incorporates MRI anatomical information to improve the precision of EEG source localization.