While my work draws upon ancient traditions of symbolism and spiritual practice, it is also informed by contemporary research in neuroscience, psychology, and integrative health. Studies in meditation, prayer, ritual, and altered states of consciousness show measurable impacts on brain activity, emotional regulation, and resilience. These findings affirm that practices often labeled as “mystical” are in fact powerful tools for reshaping the mind and supporting holistic well-being.
Study Spotlight: Meditative Prayer & Brain Activity
In a pioneering neuroimaging study, Newberg and colleagues measured cerebral blood flow (CBF) in Franciscan nuns during a verbal meditative prayer (internal repetition of a sacred phrase). Using single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT), the researchers compared a baseline scan to one taken during about 40-50 minutes of prayer. They found increased blood flow in key regions:Prefrontal cortex (+7.1%)Inferior frontal lobes (~+9.0%)Inferior parietal lobes (~+6.8%)
Study Spotlight: Brain Activity During Glossolalia (“Speaking in Tongues”)
In a preliminary SPECT neuroimaging study, Newberg et al. (2006) measured regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) in individuals while they engaged in glossolalia (spiritual “speaking in tongues”) and compared that state with gospel singing. The results revealed decreased activity in the frontal lobes during glossolalia, relative to the singing condition. Additionally, there was reduced perfusion in the left caudate nucleus (part of the basal ganglia). 
Study Spotlight: Neurobiology of Spirituality
Mohandas (2008) offers a comprehensive review of neuroimaging and neurochemical research on spiritual practices, especially meditation, and explores how these may underlie mental health benefits. Neuroimaging studies show activation in prefrontal cortex, thalamic modulation, and reduced activity in parts of the parietal lobes during meditative state—sometimes described as a functional “deafferentation” of sensory input.