Abstract
Scientific clarification of the relationship between the human spirit and the body is a matter of great interest. In this study the actual subject was one of the authors (YN) and the connection between his inside states during prayer and scientific measurements was examined. In this study, 1) subject's EEGs, 2) the change of hemoglobin concentration of the cerebral cortex and 3) electrodermal activity (EDA), all during deep prayer were measured. Precise analysis of the EEG data during the deep prayer showed that the α waves which initially appeared strongly in the central and occipital areas diminished gradually, and finally α waves of lower frequency and θ waves prevailed on the whole area of the brain. Measurements of brain blood flow showed that the total hemoglobin concentration increased especially on the central area and the oxyhemoglobin concentration increased on the left frontal area. EDA measurements showed that the EDA steadily declined for 180 sec after the start of prayer and then remained at this low level until the end of prayer. This indicated that the subject entered into the state of deep prayer at 180 sec after the start of prayer and this state was then maintained during the prayer.
