Impact of Chanting on the Human Brain Using EEG Analysis and Psychological Assessment
D. Chauhan, Shelly Sachdeva, Sandep Kumar
2025 IEEE First International Conference on Innovations in Engineering and Next-Generation Technologies for Sustainability November 7, 2025 DOI: 10.1109/icinvents64613.2025.11402503 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Pilot study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 21 |
| Population | Meditation-naïve college graduates |
| Intervention | Gayatri Mantra chanting |
| Duration | 10-minute chanting session for EEG; 60-day daily chanting routine for anxiety assessment |
| Measures | Sinha's Comprehensive Anxiety Test (SCAT), electroencephalogram (EEG) |
| Key points | EEG recordings before and after a 10-minute Gayatri Mantra chanting session showed increased beta and gamma band power, suggesting heightened cognitive alertness and mental engagement. Across a 60-day daily chanting routine, anxiety scores on Sinha's Comprehensive Anxiety Test decreased measurably. The authors propose that even short-term mantra chanting may benefit brain activity and emotional state and could serve as a non-pharmacological practice for mental wellbeing. |
Abstract
The Gayatri Mantra (GM)was first mentioned in the Rig Veda. It holds a central place due to its reputed cognitive and spiritual significance. Many studies explore the impact of Vedic chanting; however, there is a gap in objective neurological measures and robust psychological evaluations. The practice of mantra chanting has been found to promote mental focus and emotional equilibrium, especially due to its vibrational resonance. This pilot study investigates the impact of chanting on the human brain using an electroencephalogram (EEG) study and psychological assessment among meditation-naïve individuals. This study includes 21 college graduates out of them, 10 individuals volunteered for EEG recordings before and aftera10-minute Gayatri Mantra chanting session to evaluate immediate changes in brainwave activity. All 21 participants underwent a 60-day daily chanting routine. Anxiety levels were assessed pre- and post-intervention using Sinha's Comprehensive Anxiety Test (SCAT). EEG data revealed increased beta and gamma band power post-chanting, suggesting heightened cognitive alertness and mental engagement. Concurrently, psychological assessment showed a measurable reduction in anxiety scores following the $\mathbf{6 0}$-day chanting period. These results indicate that even a short period of mantra chanting may induce beneficial changes in brain activity and emotional state. Its assessment for sustained results supports its potential as a non-pharmacological practice for enhancing mental wellbeing.