EEG activity in Carmelite nuns during a mystical experience
Mario Beauregard, Vincent Paquette
Neuroscience Letters August 15, 2008 DOI: 10.1016/j.neulet.2008.08.028 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Observational cohort Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 14 |
| Population | Carmelite nuns |
| Topics | Mystical experience |
| Citations | 105 |
| Key findings | Mystical experiences in Carmelite nuns are associated with increased theta and gamma1 EEG power and altered coherence across cortical areas in both hemispheres. |
Abstract
Mystical experiences relate to a fundamental dimension of human existence. These experiences, which are characterized by a sense of union with God, are commonly reported across all cultures. To date, no electroencephalography (EEG) study has been conducted to identify the neuroelectrical correlates of such experiences. The main objective of this study was to measure EEG spectral power and coherence in 14 Carmelite nuns during a mystical experience. EEG activity was recorded from 19 scalp locations during a resting state, a control condition and a mystical condition. In the mystical condition compared to control condition, electrode sites showed greater theta power at F3, C3, P3, Fz, Cz and Pz, and greater gamma1 power was detected at T4 and P4. Higher delta/beta ratio, theta/alpha ratio and theta/beta ratio were found for several electrode sites. In addition, FP1-C3 pair of electrodes displayed greater coherence for theta band while F4-P4, F4-T6, F8-T6 and C4-P4 pairs of electrodes showed greater coherence for alpha band. These results indicate that mystical experiences are mediated by marked changes in EEG power and coherence. These changes implicate several cortical areas of the brain in both hemispheres.
Comparable studies
Other observational and cohort studies on mystical experience, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Neural correlates of a mystical experience in Carmelite nuns Carmelite nuns | 2006 | Observational cohort | |
| Neural correlates of mystical experience Vietnam veterans with penetrating traumatic brain injury and matched healthy controls | 2015 | Observational cohort | n = 148 |
| The Peak Experience Variable in DPT-Assisted Psychotherapy with Cancer Patients Cancer patients | 1977 | Observational study | n = 128 |
| Psilocybin-Induced Mystical-Type Experiences are Related to Persisting Positive Effects: A Quantitative and Qualitative Report Healthy volunteers | 2022 | Observational cohort | n = 28 |
| Intensity of Mystical Experiences Occasioned by 5-MeO-DMT and Comparison With a Prior Psilocybin Study Individuals at a psychospiritual retreat in Mexico | 2018 | Observational cohort | n = 20 |
Citations in the library
Cited by 32
- A Systematic Review of Transcendent States Across Meditation and Contemplative Traditions. Explore 2018
- A Methodological Review of Meditation Research Frontiers in Psychiatry July 1, 2014
- Brain activity in near-death experiencers during a meditative state Resuscitation July 2, 2009
- Neural Correlates of the Shamanic State of Consciousness Frontiers in Human Neuroscience March 18, 2021
- Mystical experiences associated with seizures Religion, Brain & Behavior April 8, 2014
and 27 more in the library
Cites 7
- Neural correlates of a mystical experience in Carmelite nuns Neuroscience Letters July 27, 2006
- Religious and Mystical Experiences as Artifacts of Temporal Lobe Function: A General Hypothesis Perceptual and Motor Skills December 1, 1983
- The neural substrates of religious experience The Journal of Neuropsychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences August 1, 1997
- Brain sources of EEG gamma frequency during volitionally meditation-induced, altered states of consciousness, and experience of the self Psychiatry Research Neuroimaging November 1, 2001
- Impact of regular meditation practice on EEG activity at rest and during evoked negative emotions. International Journal of Neuroscience June 2005
and 2 more in the library