EEG of two persons during their roles as spiritual trance healer and as client – a pilot study

Abstract

Two experienced spiritual (trance) healers who occasionally treat each other were recorded simultaneously, each with 27 EEG channels. The participants alternated their roles as healer and client (8 runs of 15 min: each 4 times healer, 4 times client). FFT spectral analysis was done using average reference. Spectra were averaged across the 27 channels. Power was integrated for each of the eight frequency bands (delta through gamma). The eight simultaneous results of the healing runs (client vs healer condition) were statistically compared (frequency band-wise ANOVA). In their role as healer compared to their role as client, both participants showed less power in the function-inhibiting delta and function-facilitating beta-3 EEG frequency bands. In sum, this pilot study of spiritual (trance) healing found distinct EEG states (common to both participants) that combined EEG characteristics of functional inhibition and functional facilitation in healer and client which cannot be reduced to changes in drowsiness or alertness.