Changes in Brain Waves During Silent Repetition of OM: A Crossover Study from India.
Sushma Pal, Shirley Telles, Acharya Balkrishna
Journal of Religion and Health December 2024 DOI: 10.1007/s10943-022-01687-2 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Within-subject experimental study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 15 |
| Population | Adult male volunteers from northern India, average age 25.0 ± 4.9 years, with about five years of focused meditation (dharana) experience and no prior experience of silent repetition of 'OM' or 'one' |
| Interventions | Silent repetition of OM silent repetition of 'one' quiet rest |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Keywords | Electroencephalograph Silent repetition Theta energy |
| Key findings | Theta wave energy at Pz-A2 increased significantly during silent repetition of OM compared with the preceding state, but not during silent repetition of 'one' or quiet rest. The authors suggest this pattern indicates a state of effortless relaxation specifically associated with OM repetition. |
Abstract
Previously, the electroencephalogram (EEG) recorded while listening to repetition of a Sanskrit monosyllable (i.e., OM) was not significantly different from the EEG recorded during control periods. In the present study, fifteen adult volunteers from northern India (all male, average age 25.0 ± 4.9 years) were assessed using monopolar scalp EEG recordings before, during and after (i) silent repetition of a monosyllable (OM), (ii) silent repetition of 'one' and (iii) quiet rest. In (i), (ii) and (iii) breathing was not consciously modified. The participants had an average of five years' experience of focused meditation (dharana), involving awareness directed to the breath. Participants had no prior experience of silent repetition of either 'OM' or 'one'. They were Indian Hindus for whom OM has special spiritual significance, whereas 'one' does not. The sessions were on separate days in random order. The absolute and relative energy of theta waves in the EEG recorded at Pz-A2 increased significantly during repetition of OM compared to the preceding state. There were no changes during silent repetition of 'one' or during quiet rest. Increased energy in the theta band while awake reflects a state of relaxation devoid of effort. Hence, during silent repetition of OM alone there were changes suggestive of effortless relaxation.
Comparable studies
Other experimental studies on meditation, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| The benefits of being present: Mindfulness and its role in psychological well-being. Cancer patients (clinical intervention study) | 2003 | Mixed methods: scale development, correlational, quasi-experimental, laboratory, experience-sampling, and clinical intervention study | |
| Loving-kindness meditation increases social connectedness. | 2008 | Controlled laboratory experiment | |
| Mindfulness and mind-wandering: Finding convergence through opposing constructs. | 2012 | Two studies: correlational study and experimental study | |
| Mental Training Enhances Attentional Stability: Neural and Behavioral Evidence | 2009 | Experimental study | |
| Mindfulness meditation and substance use in an incarcerated population. Incarcerated population | 2006 | Quasi-experimental with treatment-as-usual control condition |
Citations in the library
Cited by 2
Cites 7
- Mental Training Enhances Attentional Stability: Neural and Behavioral Evidence Journal of Neuroscience October 21, 2009
- Functional brain mapping of the relaxation response and meditation Neuroreport May 1, 2000
- Experiences and Perceived Effects of Rosary Praying: A Qualitative Study Journal of Religion and Health June 9, 2021
- EEG Spectral Analysis on OM Mantra Meditation: A Pilot Study. Applied Psychophysiology and Biofeedback June 1, 2018
- Changes in autonomic variables following two meditative states described in yoga texts. The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine September 4, 2012
and 2 more in the library