Chanting has been a crucial part of human life in a religious context. Humans have been practising chanting since the birth of this universe. It was an important element of human culture on religious and spiritual grounds. In a scientific context, chanting is more related to the human mind and brain. It has a great connection with the psychological and emotional health of individuals.
These repetitive rhythms and rhymes are a form of meditative activity that aids in the development of cognitive and emotional behaviours in people. Researchers have also confirmed the link between the human brain and these rhythmic sounds, which we know as chanting. It has a great influence on the thinking patterns of individuals and their mental health.
Read More: The Psychology of Hope Effect: How Prayers and Spiritual Rituals Help People Cope
Understanding Chanting
Before we explore the relation of chanting with the human psyche and emotional well-being of individuals, we need to first understand what chanting is. Chanting refers to the use of repetitive rhythmic and rhymical sounds, words, or phrases that calm and relax the human mind. Mantras like Om are one of the most sacred forms of chanting in Hinduism.
Other religions have their own rhythmic and rhymical sounds. People have long believed that chanting is only useful on religious and spiritual grounds, but scientific studies have explored the relation of chanting to people’s emotional health and cognitive development as well. When individuals repeat these rhythmic and rhyming sounds either silently or aloud, it activates some chemicals in the human mind and deactivates others.
This synchronisation of chanting with the human mind tends to calm human nerves and thinking patterns. People who generally feel anxious and stressed can practice chanting as a form of therapy, and not limit this therapeutic exercise to only a divine relation with God.
Read More: How Meditation Changes Your Brain
How Chanting Affects the Brain
The functioning of the human brain has a strong connection with chanting. The thinking pattern of an individual is greatly influenced by the rhythmic and rhymical sounds. Chanting activates the part of the human mind known as the prefrontal cortex, which is primarily responsible for decision-making. Similarly, the part of the human brain, like the amygdala, that is responsible for dealing with stress and anxiety, becomes less active. Due to this decreased activity of the amygdala, individuals tend to feel more relaxed and calmer.
The functioning of the human brain provides a natural way for people to enhance their emotional health. Chanting not only connects individuals on spiritual or religious grounds with their god, but it also provides them with a coping mechanism for poor mental health. A study published in the Cognitive Processing Journal suggests that individuals who practised chanting ‘om’ tend to show decreased activity in the limbic system, which in turn reduces their stress and anxiety.
Read More: What is Spiritual Therapy?
The Role of Breathing in Chanting
Apart from the relation between chanting and the functioning of the human brain, chanting also influences the breathing process. It directly affects the inhale and exhale process and helps individuals have a more stable and regulated breathing mechanism. The research has shown that those participants who practised chanting ‘om’ tend to have a more stable breathing mechanism as compared to those who did not. Chanting the syllable om required them to have deeper and controlled breathing, which relaxed their nerves and mind. In addition, it also controlled the release of cortisol, a hormone responsible for stress and anxiety in the human body.
Read More: Breathing Techniques for Stress Relief and Emotional Balance
Cognitive Benefits of Chanting
Chanting has a close link with the cognitive development of a person. Chanting improves the memory and attention span of an individual and helps them be more organised in their speech and language. It helps an individual to communicate more fluently with organised thoughts. A study published in Frontiers in Psychology Journal suggests that those participants who practised chanting were more fluent, organised, and focused, with a longer attention span.
Emotional and Psychological Impact
Chanting greatly influences the emotional and psychological well-being of people. Practising repetitive sound synchronises the heart rate and breathing of individuals, thus relaxing the human mind. In this way, a hormone called oxytocin, which is responsible for generating the feeling of love and affection in the human body, is released, which ultimately eliminates the negative vibes. People who frequently practice mantras develop a more relaxed and calmer mind. Chanting diverts the human mind from negative thoughts, and people tend to think more about positive things. This helps individuals dealing with stress and anxiety to become relaxed and peaceful.
Read More: Helpful Breathing Techniques for Meditation
Chanting and Neuroplasticity
By nature, the human mind is flexible. It learns from experiences and different situations and thus adapts itself accordingly. In medical terms, this process is referred to as neuroplasticity. Chanting supports this process by helping individuals focus more on positive thoughts while ignoring negative ones. People who often practice chanting develop easily a mind that is more relaxed, peaceful and focused on positivity, which makes it easy to deal with stress and anxiety.
Scientific Support for Chanting Practices
Scientific studies have confirmed the relationship between chanting and the human brain. Studies suggest that people who practice chanting are happier in their lives than those who do not. It is because chanting improves the nervous system of a person, and they become less prone to stress-related disorders. Additionally, chanting releases a chemical known as endorphin, which produces a sense of well-being in the human mind and reduces stress and pain.
Read More: How Stress Affects the Brain and Behaviour?
Integrating Chanting into Daily Life
Practising chanting in our daily lives makes it easier to deal with stressful situations. These repetitive sounds and phrases should be integrated into the daily routine, especially by those who are stressed and anxious. Chanting becomes more impactful when it is practised with consistency. Daily chanting helps a person reduce stress and improve their psychological and emotional health.
Although chanting has no severe medical complications, individuals who suffer from severe anxiety and depression are advised to seek an expert opinion from a professional before practising any meditative activity. Chanting functions as a therapeutic activity that helps a person deal with stress and anxiety more easily.
Conclusion
In conclusion, chanting is more than just a spiritual activity. It is a meditative practice that provides a coping mechanism for people suffering from anxiety and chaos. It calms your nervous system and helps a person enter a state of relief and peace. It relaxes their nerves and improves the breathing process, thus helping them develop a more stable and happier mind and thinking pattern.
References +
Bernardi, L., Sleight, P., Bandinelli, G., Cencetti, S., Fattorini, L., Wdowczyc-Szulc, J., & Lagi, A. (2001). Effect of rosary prayer and yoga mantras on autonomic cardiovascular rhythms: Comparative study. British Medical Journal, 323(7327), 1446–1449. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.323.7327.1446
Healthline. (2021, June 25). The science of mantra meditation: How it affects your brain and body. https://www.healthline.com/health/mantra-meditation
Lynch, S., & Pagnoni, G. (2010). Neural correlates of “Om” chanting: A pilot functional magnetic resonance imaging study. Cognitive Processing, 11(1), 39–56. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10339-009-0273-9
Verywell Mind. (2022, September 19). How chanting can calm your mind and body. https://www.verywellmind.com/chanting-for-stress-relief-4178311
Thompson, E., & Froese, T. (2015). Meditation, mindfulness, and cognitive neuroscience. Frontiers in Psychology, 6, Article 776. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2015.00776
