EEG activity in Carmelite nuns during a mystical experience

Neuroscience Letters
Mario Beauregard, Vincent Paquette

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.

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Citations

Jul 25, 2009·Cognitive Processing·Shruti Baijal, Narayanan Srinivasan
Nov 7, 2012·Applied Psychophysiology and Biofeedback·Gabriell E PrinslooWayne E Derman
Aug 14, 2013·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·Jimo BorjiginGeorge A Mashour
Sep 13, 2011·Explore : the Journal of Science and Healing·Dean I RadinArnaud Delorme
Jul 4, 2009·Resuscitation·Mario BeauregardVincent Paquette
Jul 30, 2014·Frontiers in Psychiatry·John W Thomas, Marc Cohen
Dec 13, 2016·Neurocase·Alberto Carmona-BayonasJuan Vega Villar
Dec 1, 2017·Frontiers in Psychiatry·Lars Levi DutschkeSebastian Walther
Sep 7, 2019·Harvard Review of Psychiatry·James I RimMyrna M Weissman
Sep 29, 2020·Frontiers in Psychology·Joseph Glicksohn, Tal Dotan Ben-Soussan
Apr 6, 2021·Frontiers in Human Neuroscience·Emma R HuelsRichard E Harris

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