Abstract
Sounds found at 'sacred sites' marked by rock art have been reported
to induce altered or mystical states. To determine the neural
correlates of these sounds we measured brain activity with a
quantitative electroencephalograph (QEEG) while they listened to a
binaurally-recorded soundscape derived from one of these locations.
We found that the soundscape increased frontal gamma activity,
enhanced coherence between the left temporal and right frontal
regions, and modulated cingulate activity within the alpha, beta and
gamma bands. These results demonstrate that the 'sacred' effects of
certain patterns of sounds may have a neurobiological basis and can
induce configurations of brain function that are associated with altered
or mystical states.
