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

prayerEffect 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, MRCP2,5

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

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2 Comments

  1. Islam is not a religion but a code of conduct for every human being to lead his / her life on Earth in a manner that they attain worldly and spiritual success. The call to prayer says “Hayya alas salah” and Hayya alal falah”, which can be translated in english to “Rush to prayer and Rush towards success”

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