The Neurophysiological Correlates of Religious Chants Compared to Non-Religious Chants: An Eeg Study

Chanting is a rhythmic vocalization found across cultures, but its neurophysiological effects based on the nature of chanted words remain unclear. This study examines whether religious and non-religious chants elicit distinct brain activity patterns. Participants who believed in the sacredness of religious chants (OM, Ra-dha-sva-aa-mi [RS]) but were not regular practitioners engaged in sessions involving both religious and non-religious chants (Table, Vande Mataram [VM]). EEG recordings were taken before and after a minute of internal chanting. Results showed a significant increase in alpha power following religious chanting across all brain regions, particularly in the occipital lobe, suggesting relaxation. Additionally, RS exhibited decreased gamma amplitude and increased alpha power compared to non-religious chants, indicating a state of transcendental bliss. These findings highlight the potential calming effects of religious chanting and encourage further research on the broader impact of different chants on brain activity.