Abstract
Electroencephalograms (EEGs) were recorded during rest and during prayer in the laboratory from 6 adults aged 24 to 70 yr. belonging to the Protestant faith. The purpose was to discover whether the electrocortical rhythms during prayer are slower than they are during rest as has been reported to be the case in Transcendental Meditation. Findings did not show any evidence of EEG slowing in prayer. Indeed, the opposite result, namely, a speeding-up of the EEG, was observed in the majority of subjects. In one subject the shift from rest to prayer amounted to an average increase in frequency of 1.6 c/sec. Findings were discussed in relation to similar results which have been reported in highly experienced Yoga meditators and advanced Transcendental Meditators capable of deep meditative states. Confirmatory evidence from one subject who was a highly experienced Sufi meditator is also presented.
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