Estudo das estimulações cognitivas por meio de eletroencefalografia

Abstract

Spirituality may be considered as a practice or cerebral state related to different religious traditions, influencing multiple neural functions. Although studies on its physiological effects are still scarce, the literatura points out that meditation leads to measurable changes in EEG activity. Articles report increases in alpha and theta power, reductions in frontal gamma. However, a significant gap persists in the 40–100 Hz frequency range, which is very importante for understanding complex brain functions. In this context, this study analyze quantitative variations in the EEG of healthy individuals during spiritual meditation. After presenting a systematic review of the literature, the thesis proposes a protocol for experimental studies, during which volunteers undergo four periods of stimulation: silence, music, personalized pre-meditation, and meditation guided by the “Our Father” prayer. This protocol was applied to Twenty-six healthy individuals, whose EEG was recorded with 400 Hz sampling rate, segmented into 2-second epochs and analyzed through coherence. Quantitative analysis of ten individuals was performed, using statistical analysis, the Mann-Whitney test, and by percentage variation (PV). Results point out a mean PV of 11.76%, including maximum power changes above 25%, when EEG signals recorded during silence are compared to those segments during meditation. The greatest changes occurred mainly in the gamma and super-gamma bands, particularly on pairs Fp1-Fp2 and C3-C4. The central region was the most sensitive to changes, while slow rhythms such as delta exhibited moderate power variations. In parallel, stochastic analyses of neuronal cell cultures, involving Wistar rats, plated on microelectrode arrays (MEA), point out that spontaneous neuronal signals exhibit non-Gaussian distributions, high complexity, and subtle transitions between states, revealed through probabilistic tests and probability density analysis. These approaches allow the detection of emergent properties such as self-organization and functional instability, expanding the translational potential for future studies on consciousness and spirituality. The thesis integrates EEG findings, a systematic review, and probabilistic analyses, indicating that spiritual practices modulate brain rhythms, thus activating complex cognitive functions. In consequence, they may influence health and well-being. Despite sample limitations, the findings reinforce the need for specific protocols, greater methodological standardization, and randomized studies, contributing to the advancement of interfaces between medicine, spirituality, neuroscience, and healthcare.