Effect of Muslim Prayer on α Electroencephalography and relationship with Autonomic Nervous System Activity

Effect of Muslim Prayer (Salat) on α Electroencephalography and Its Relationship with Autonomic Nervous System Activity

Hazem Doufesh, MSc,^1,2,3 Fatimah Ibrahim, PhD,^1,2 Noor Azina Ismail, PhD,^2,4 and Wan Azman Wan Ahmad, MRCP^2,5

Objectives: This study investigated the effect of Muslim prayer (salat) on the α relative power (RPα) of electroencephalography (EEG) and autonomic nervous activity and the relationship between them by using spectral analysis of EEG and heart rate variability (HRV).

Methods: Thirty healthy Muslim men participated in the study. Their electrocardiograms and EEGs were continuously recorded before, during, and after salat practice with a computer-based data acquisition system (MP150, BIOPAC Systems Inc., Camino Goleta, California). Power spectral analysis was conducted to extract the RPα and HRV components.

Results: During salat, a significant increase (p<.05) was observed in the mean RPα in the occipital and parietal regions and in the normalized unit of high-frequency (nuHF) power of HRV (as a parasympathetic index). Meanwhile, the normalized unit of low-frequency (nuLF) power and LF/HF of HRV (as sympathetic indices) decreased according to HRV analyses. RPα showed a significant positive correlation in the occipital and parietal electrodes with nuHF and significant negative correlations with nuLF and LF/HF.

Conclusions: During salat, parasympathetic activity increased and sympathetic activity decreased. Therefore, regular salat practices may help promote relaxation, minimize anxiety, and reduce cardiovascular risk.

Address correspondence to:
Fatimah Ibrahim, PhD
Centre for Innovation in Medical Engineering
Department of Biomedical Engineering
Faculty of Engineering, University of Malaya
Kuala Lumpur 50603 Malaysia
E-mail: fatimah@um.edu.my

Download full paper